For the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse, Spain's great cities will be pulling in eclipse-chasers from across Europe, but not every famous destination is equally well placed. In Barcelona and Madrid, the eclipse is a near miss — dramatic on paper, yet ultimately disappointing. Madrid gets a 99.96% partial eclipse, which means no totality, so no corona, no twilight sky and no plunge in temperature. Cue a mass exodus from Spain's two biggest cities in search of totality.

To experience a total solar eclipse, you need to be inside the narrow path of totality stretching across northern Spain, from the northwest coast to the east coast. Timing and geography matter because this is a very low-sun eclipse, with totality arriving close to sunset. Coastal beaches, riverbanks, hilltop miradors and elevated parks with unobstructed west-northwest horizons will become prime real estate for one of Europe's most anticipated astronomical events. Here are 10 cities for the eclipse, with recommended viewpoints.

Essential resources for checking and re-checking intended destinations for totality include Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sight lines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional. However, nothing beats being in place the night before to check for trees and other obstructions at the time of the eclipse. All times and cloud statistics come from Time and Date and are for totality only.

1. Valladolid

Surrounded by flat land and with an excellent chance of clear skies, Valladolid is one of the top spots for the eclipse. There will be some clear sight lines from the east bank of the Pisuerga River, specifically its Playa de las Moreras river beach, though buildings will complicate things, so play it safe and head to the Parque Urbano de las Contiendas on the west side.

2. Palencia

One of the destinations most likely to have clear skies, Palencia is surrounded by flat, open landscapes perfect for viewing a low-altitude eclipse. Key locations include the scenic Mirador de Palencia, overlooking the city from the southwest, and the elevated Cristo del Otero, overlooking the city from the north.

3. León

This historic city south of the Cantabrian Mountains is bound to be one of the hotspots for the eclipse. Considered one of the best spots to watch the sunset because of its panoramic views of the city, Mirador de las Lomas (specifically Mirador de Las Lomas Tres), overlooks León from the east and offers panoramic sunset views across the city.

4. Zaragoza

On the Ebro River between Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza is best known for its spectacular Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar). It just so happens that, from the historic Puente de Piedra bridge, photographers may be able to capture the totally eclipsed sun just above the silhouette of its spires. Expect crowds here, and also on the San Lázaro riverfront behind. For a quieter spot, follow the Ebro River northwest away from the city center.

5. Burgos

Famed for its medieval architecture, this provincial capital will be busy for the eclipse, but pay close attention to sight lines. Many will be close to the historic Arco de Santa María, but it's poorly placed, so instead get yourself on the northwest bank of the elevated Parque del Castillo for a low panoramic view of the city — and the eclipse.

6. Logroño

A stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Logroño — 92 miles (148 km) south of Bilbao — is famed for the twin towers of its Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda. Its Parque de Ebro, on the banks of the River Ebro, is ideal for eclipse-viewing, with the Puente de Piedra bridge also offering a clear view.

7. A Coruña

The first major city on mainland Europe to experience totality will be A Coruña in northwestern Spain, where its crescent-shaped Riazor and Orzan beaches will doubtless be crowded for the occasion. They're close to the city center, home to exquisite Galician seafood restaurants.

8. Gijón

There are lots of places to watch the eclipse from this large coastal city in northern Spain. The clifftop park on Santa Catalina hill is bound to be busy, but there's plenty of space on the beaches on either side — the crescent-shaped Playa de San Lorenzo on the east and artificial Playa de Poniente on the west.

9. Bilbao

Bilbao, on the Bay of Biscay at the northern edge of the path, gets a short totality, but has a spectacular elevated spot to watch the eclipse close to the center. Artxanda Viewpoint is a three-minute journey via funicular railway and gives panoramic views of the city. It's a popular sunset spot in August, so it's bound to be busy.

10. Madrid (San Sebastián de los Reyes)

Frustratingly for madrileñas, madrileños, and eclipse planners, Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun), at the heart of Madrid, gets a 99.96% partial solar eclipse. Only its northern suburbs see totality, including San Sebastián de los Reyes, 12 miles (20km) north. El Mirador de Pichón has a clear sight line to a short, dramatic totality. San Sebastián de los Reyes is one of 11 observation points curated by the Community of Madrid.

Beaches offer wide-open spaces and low-horizon views, making them ideal for skywatching. For the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse, Spain's beaches will be among the most sought-after locations — but not all will deliver. The path of totality crosses the north and east of the country just before sunset, with the sun low in the west-northwest. Many top resorts face east for sunrise views, so at the crucial moment, the sun may be blocked by hotels or terrain behind you.

To experience totality — the brief period during a solar eclipse when the sun is completely covered by the moon — clearly, being on the coast isn't enough — you need a clear, unobstructed view to the west-northwest, ideally over open water. That's why the best eclipse beaches are either on Spain's Atlantic-facing north coast, where the horizon is open, or in carefully chosen Mediterranean spots where development is low, and sightlines are clean.

The altitude of the eclipsed sun matters: in Galicia, Asturias, and the Cantabrian Coast, it's 12 to 9 degrees above the horizon — manageable but low. On the Mediterranean and Balearic Islands, it's just 4 to 2 degrees, turning totality into a fleeting event easily obscured by haze or thin cloud.

Choose your beach wisely (checking tide times a few weeks in advance on Surf Forecast or Tide Forecast), and you'll watch the moon's shadow race in from the Atlantic before revealing the corona during totality, just minutes before sunset.

Get it wrong, and you could miss everything.

Essential resources for checking and re-checking intended destinations for totality include Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sightlines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional. The best advice is to test your location the day before the eclipse. Let's look at some of the best beaches in Spain for eclipse viewing, complete with details on timing and conditions.

1. Praia de Alba e Sabón, Galicia

Easily accessible just south of A Coruña, this broad, open beach offers excellent infrastructure and long, flat stretches of sand. Its clear west-northwest outlook makes it ideal for a low, pre-sunset eclipse, with uninterrupted ocean horizons, coastal paths, and easy access.

2. Playa de Langre, Cantabria

A wild, cliff-backed beach east of Santander, Langre offers a dramatic natural amphitheater facing west-northwest. Wide sands and elevated viewpoints above the cliffs provide excellent sightlines for a low eclipse. Access requires a short walk, but an expansive horizon and striking scenery are the reward.

3. Playa de las Catedrales, Galicia

Famed for its towering rock arches, this dramatic beach offers a spectacular setting — but requires planning. Strict visitor limits and tides complicate access, so consider the clifftop gardens above for an easier option. Both provide wide northwest views, ideal for watching the eclipsed sun sink toward the Atlantic horizon.

4. Playa El Puntal de Somo, Cantabria

A vast, exposed sandbar near Santander, El Puntal offers huge open skies and uninterrupted west-northwest views across the bay. Easily reached by boat or car, its sheer scale allows plenty of space to spread out — ideal for a relaxed, crowd-free eclipse watch with clear horizons toward the setting sun. An epic experience awaits.

5. Platja de Riumar, Ebro Delta

The Ebro Delta is one of Spain's largest and most distinctive natural landscapes — a vast mosaic of wetlands, lagoons, rice fields, and barrier beaches extending into the Mediterranean. Set close to the mouth of the Ebro River, Riumar Beach offers uninterrupted views to the northwest.

6. Platya del Gurugú, Castellón

This flat, sandy beach south of Benicàssim is unusually open, with minimal development behind it thanks to a nearby airstrip. That translates into clean, unobstructed views toward the west-northwest — crucial for this very low eclipse. Easy access and wide sightlines make it a practical and reliable Mediterranean option.

7. Es Trenc, Mallorca

Remote but popular, Es Trenc offers long sands and wide western sea views. Its undeveloped backdrop ensures minimal obstruction, though its narrow width can feel busy. For a horizon-hugging eclipse, its sightlines and natural setting make it a prime choice in Mallorca. Note: Es Trenc is an unofficial nudist beach.

8. Platja Estanys, Mallorca

Close to Colònia de Sant Jordi, this bright beach offers easy access and unobstructed views to the west-northwest. Minimal elevation and calm waters with nearby facilities make it a straightforward observing spot.

9. Platja des Carbó, Mallorca

A quieter, undeveloped stretch reached by a short coastal walk, Es Carbó offers pristine sands and uninterrupted horizons. Its isolation means fewer crowds — ideal for photographers tracking a low eclipse.

10. Platja de Son Bou, Menorca

Menorca's longest beach provides a broad, accessible platform for a very low, horizon-skimming eclipse moments before sunset. Its west-northwest outlook across the open sea is excellent. Lots of facilities and space make it an easy, reliable choice — though it could be immensely popular.

On Aug. 12, 2026, the moon's shadow will sweep across northern Spain, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, creating a rare sunset total solar eclipse. For a few fleeting minutes and seconds, the sun will be completely blocked, revealing its delicate outer atmosphere — the corona — as the landscape is bathed in an eerie twilight.

Spain offers an exciting opportunity to experience low-altitude totality near sunset. By the time totality begins, the sun will already be sinking toward the western horizon — around 10 degrees high in the northwest and dropping to just a few degrees in eastern regions.

That's why rural locations matter. Wide-open landscapes — miradors on high plateaus, wetlands, vineyards and semi-desert terrain — offer the kind of uninterrupted sightlines needed to track the eclipsed sun as it dips toward the horizon.

These locations have all been checked using resources including Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sightlines from Peak inder, as well as The Eclipse App and Eclipse Horizon Checker, while cloud cover is from Time and Date. However, the best advice is to check the weather, choose a location and confirm sightlines the night before the eclipse.

1. Castildetierra (Fairy's Chimney), Navarre

A bizarre, eroded pillar in the shape of a chimney, Castildetierra (known as the Fairy's Chimney), is within Bardenas Reales Natural Park, near the town of Tudela in Navarre. It's a semi-desert landscape with clear sightlines and plenty of places to park.

2. Talatí de Dalt, Menorca

The island of Menorca — also a Starlight-certified destination — is scattered with dozens of sites from a Neolithic Talayotic culture, which built huge stone structures without mortar between about 1,000 and 123 B.C.E. There are many sites, but Talatí de Dalt stands out for both its accessibility and unusual T-shaped ceremonial monument. It's on flat land, but this remains a risky choice because the eclipse will take place very low on the horizon, so if you're planning to come here, check the sightlines the previous day.

3. Zamarramala, Castile and León

The historic city of Segovia, northwest of Madrid, will be hugely popular for the eclipse because of its aqueduct, but it has relatively difficult sightlines for such a low eclipse. Just to the north is Zamarramala, a village that stands above its surroundings on a high plateau. It will have an unobstructed 360-degree view of the eclipse above a flat landscape of Castilian fields.

4. Calatañazor, Castile and León

Above the ominously named Valley of Blood, close to the centerline of the path of totality, is Calatañazor, a small village named after the tiny fortified city on top of a hill. Its well-preserved medieval look, with paved streets and traditional houses, has made it a backdrop for movies, most famously Orson Welles' Chimes at Midnight.

5. Laguna de Gallocanta, Spain

Almost bang on the centerline, this rain-fed salt lake on a high plateau in the south-west of Aragon is best known for cranes in winter, though in August you're more likely to see bustards, flamingos, harriers, vultures and the golden eagle. It's a wide, flat, undeveloped landscape framed by picturesque mountain ranges, with nearby places to stop, including Observatorio de la Reguera, Observatorio El Cañizar, and Mirador de aves de Tornos.

6. Alfaro Wetlands, La Rioja

The Alfaro wetlands nature reserve in La Rioja, near the border with Navarre, is a protected wetland area along the Ebro River. Among its meanders, islands and beaches, there are storks, herons, cormorants and kingfishers. The best eclipse-viewing spots will be open meadows and flat, grassy areas away from trees.

7. Arcos de las Salinas, Teruel

South of Teruel, in the heart of the Gúdar-Javalambre region, is the "interstellar town" of Arcos de las Salinas. It's home to Galáctica, Europe's largest astronomy outreach center, which will stage a special ticketed event for the eclipse. Mirador de Estrellas de Arcos de las Salinas, beside an area of telescopes, will have a view of the totally eclipsed sun just above the mountains.

8. Fortaleza califal de Gormaz, Soria

This Islamic citadel, dating to the 8th century, has well-preserved walls, watchtowers and a horseshoe arch above its main door. Almost as if it were created for the eclipse, the walls face northwest to create the perfect balcony for watching the moon's shadow approach across a rural landscape.

9. Lago Enol, Asturias

There are myriad miradors in the Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa that offer spectacular vistas not only of the mountains but also of the Cantabrian Sea beyond. One is Lago Enol, a high mountain lake that won't see the eclipse, but whose Mirador del Príncipe de Asturias offers an excellent vantage point if the weather is clear.

10. San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja

The Ebro River basin is a major destination for this eclipse, stretching from La Rioja and Navarra in the west through Zaragoza and into Aragón. On the slopes of the Sierra de Cantabria in La Rioja, San Vicente de la Sonsierra is a village at the top of a hill overlooking the Ebro River, with sweeping views toward the setting sun in August. It's also a winemaking area along the Ruta del Vino.

Looking for inspiration or deep research for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026? Stretching across eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, the moon's shadow will carve out a roughly 190-mile (305 kilometers) wide path of totality — a fleeting corridor where the sun will be completely blocked by the moon, revealing its ghostly corona for a minute or two and plunging the landscape into twilight.

What follows is a curated mix of 15 locations — from remote Arctic fjords to city center viewpoints and high, dry plains — each offering a different way to experience one of nature's most extraordinary spectacles.

However, this is not a simple one-size-fits-all eclipse — the experience will dramatically differ depending on where you stand. In Greenland and Iceland, the eclipsed sun will hang relatively high in the sky. In Spain, it will be about 12 degrees above the horizon in Galicia, but dropping to just a few degrees above the horizon in the Balearic Islands. In some areas of Spain, even a low ridge, a distant hill or a line of buildings could block your view at the crucial moment, so choosing the right location is everything.

These locations have all been checked using resources including Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sightlines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional.

However, the best advice is always to scout out the location the day before, at the time of the eclipse, to check sightlines. Cloud cover information comes from Time and Date, though check the weather forecast before traveling, and again on the day itself.

1. Segovia, Spain

An epic vista for the eclipse will be possible from this mirador, which also has views of the majestic Alcázar de Segovia, the inspiration for the castle in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. It faces the open plains of Castile to the west and is accessed via a path from Arco de la Fuencisla. However, it's a short totality from Segovia.

2. Saxhóll Crater, Iceland

The western end of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is where totality lasts longest in Iceland. About 5.5 miles (9 km) south of Hellissandur on the peninsula's westernmost tip, Saxhóll Crater is an easy climb. It's inside Snæfellsjökull National Park.

3. Becerril de Campos, Spain

Becerril de Campos is one of many small towns within the flat plains of Palencia that will offer open views across the surrounding landscape. The town's San Pedro Cultural Becerril de Campos is a converted Romanesque church now used as an astronomy center. Inside is a Foucault pendulum, which demonstrates the Earth's rotation.

4. Reykjavík Domestic Airport, Iceland

Both airports in Iceland — Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) and Keflavík International Airport — are in the path of totality. The former, just a short walk from the city center, has a fabulous southwest-facing coastline where food stalls will be set up, with plans to accommodate around 10,000 people all along the seafront.

5. Nordvestfjord, Greenland

Getting close to the centerline of the path of totality anywhere but Spain is a challenge, but it comes with a reward. Realistically, the only option in Greenland is Nordvestfjord (Northwest Fjord) in Scoresby Sund, a region known for icebergs and Arctic wildlife, including muskox with occasional sightings of polar bears and walruses. Here, a 2-minute, 16-second totality is possible, but you'll need to be on an expedition cruise ship to access it.

6. Castillo de Osma, Spain

This strategically placed citadel, dating from the 11th century, perched above the Ucero River, Osma Castle offers sweeping views of the Castilian landscape and a sense of Spain's medieval frontier history. Its weathered stone walls and commanding hilltop position on the edge of Ciudad de Osma make it a striking stop for eclipse chasers.

7. Mount Helgafell, Iceland

For sweeping, uninterrupted views across Reykjavík, Faxaflói Bay, and the Reykjanes Peninsula, take a 45-minute hike from Kaldársel through a lava field to the top of this 338-meter volcanic hill. It's just south of Hafnarfjörður in Greater Reykjavík.

8. Mirador del Sablón, Spain

You may have to get here early to get a place on the most beautiful bench in the world, but if the sky is clear on the wild Asturian coast, you'll get a view of the eclipse above the Cantabrian Sea.

9. Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland

The chances of getting a vantage point in the tower of Iceland's tallest and most dramatic church are probably slim, but whoever does get a ticket is sure to get a spectacular 360-degree view of the city, surrounding mountains and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

10. Muriel Viejo, Spain

Mirador La Peñota is an observation deck on high ground at the western end of the Sierra de Cabrejas, a 33,000-hectare area of juniper forests. Although completely isolated and with a clear view to the northwest, it's close to the small town of Muriel Viejo, a Starlight Tourist Destination in the Pinares de Soria region west of Soria. Muriel Viejo is home to the Starlight Foundation-certified El Cielo de Muriel, which is fully booked but intends to hold an observation event open to non-guests.

11. Ella Island, Greenland

The only way to visit this remote island in East Greenland is via a polar expedition cruise ship. At the confluence of five iceberg-filled fjords, it hosts a summer station used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite Danish naval unit enforcing Danish sovereignty in the Arctic.

12. Santillana del Mar, Cantabria

Home to medieval towers, Renaissance palaces and churches, Santillana del Mar is one of Spain's most beautiful villages. Just 5 miles (8km) north is Torre de San Telmo, a 14th-century medieval watchtower on a cliff with expansive views over the ocean to the north and the Picos de Europa mountains to the south. It's part of a beautiful coastal walk.

13. Santander Bay, Spain

About 3 miles (5 km) from Santander, the 19th-century Faro de Cabo Mayor lighthouse watches the entrance to Santander Bay and offers dramatic cliff-top views — and spectacular coastal walks — perfect for the eclipse if skies are clear.

14. Geirfuglinn (The Great Auk), Iceland

The geirfuglinn (great auk) was a flightless bird that lived on Iceland and became extinct in the mid-19th century. Stand close to this sculpture, and you'll be among the last in Iceland to experience totality. Reykjanes lighthouse is nearby.

15. S'Arenal, Spain

For a clean, sea-level view of totality, S'Arenal is one of the most practical locations on Mallorca's south coast. Sitting at the southeastern end of Playa de Palma, it offers an uninterrupted west-northwest horizon — exactly where the eclipsed sun will hang just a couple of degrees above the sea.

NASA's historic Artemis 2 mission around the far side of the moon officially ended on April 10, as astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen's Orion spacecraft splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, having survived the fires of re-entry.

The 10-day mission saw humans return to lunar space for the first time since Apollo 17 visited the moon over five decades ago, and broke the record for the most distant crewed spaceflight in the history of human space exploration. Christina Koch, meanwhile, became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and see the far side of the moon, while Victor Glover became the first person of color to witness its barren beauty up close.

Join us as we look back through the most incredible photographs captured over the course of the Artemis 2 mission, from launch to splashdown, Earthrises and total solar eclipses and all of the major milestones in between.

1 - A crew with their moon rocket

Days before launch, the Artemis 2 crew posed in front of their Space Launch System rocket as it waited upright at Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

2 - Readying for flight

This candid shot shows Artemis 2 astronauts dressed in their orange Orion Crew Survival System spacesuits, which are designed to protect the crew during ascent through Earth's atmosphere and upon re-entry. The fashionable orange color was selected in part to help recovery crews spot the astronauts in the ocean should they ever need to exit Orion without the aid of divers, while the helmet is lighter and more durable than any previous flight suit.

3 - Launching to the moon

Artemis 2's colossal moon rocket slipped the surly bonds of Earth at 6:35 p.m. EDT (2235 GMT) on April 1, blasting into the skies above NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, to open a new era of crewed spaceflight, which could one day see American boots return to the lunar surface, this time to stay.

4 - A view of Earth from space

This photo of Earth was captured by Artemis 2 mission commander Reid Wiseman on Flight Day 2 of the 10-day mission, shortly after the Orion spacecraft executed its translunar injection burn to set it on a course for the far side of the moon. Auroras can be seen shining at the top and bottom of Earth's disk, while a flare of zodiacal light is visible to the lower right, where sunlight caught dust particles spread throughout the plane of the ecliptic.

5 - Incredible Orion selfies

Christina Koch was also caught photobombing in the window of an out-of-this-world Orion spacecraft selfie alongside the zero-gravity indicator Rise on that same day! The photo was captured using a modified GoPro camera attached to one of Orion's four solar panels, which power the spacecraft by converting sunlight into usable electricity.

6 - Earthset

The Artemis 2 crew were able to capture a gorgeous image of Earth setting behind the lunar horizon during their historic flyby of the moon's far side. White clouds can be seen swirling across the illuminated crescent of Earth's disk encompassing Australia and Oceana, as the cratered lunar surface stretches out beneath.

This wide-angle view of Earthset was captured using one of the solar-panel-mounted GoPro cameras. The white mass of the Orion spacecraft's service module dominates the left side of the image, festooned with attitude control thrusters, solar panels and, of course, NASA's red "worm" logo, alongside that of its partner, the European Space Agency, which designed and built the module.

7 - The far side of the moon

This photo of the far side of Earth's moon was captured on Flight Day 6, roughly three hours into the crew's lunar observation period, according to NASA. On this day, the astronauts took the opportunity to name one previously unobserved crater after Reid Wiseman's late wife Carroll, and another after their Orion spacecraft, Integrity. They also observed multiple impact flashes as micrometeoroids collided with the lunar surface, which were greeted by "audible screams of delight" by NASA scientists.

8 - Earthrise from around the moon

The astronauts were able to see a crescent Earth emerge from behind the night side of the moon at the tail end of their flyby of the lunar far side. The shot is a fascinating reverse of the historic "Earthrise" image captured by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders during the first mission to orbit Earth's natural satellite.

9 - A total solar eclipse from space

Soon after their lunar flyby, the astronauts of Artemis 2 witnessed a total solar eclipse as the sun passed behind the lunar disk. The brighter crescent visible on the left side is created by a phenomenon called "Earthshine", wherein sunlight reflects off our planet's atmosphere to strike the moon.

10 - Eclipse safety in space

Here the Artemis 2 astronauts can be seen wearing eclipse glasses to protect their eyes as the lunar disk swept over the face of our parent star — after all common sense doesn't stop at the atmosphere's edge.

11 - A group hug felt around the world, from space

The crew of Artemis 2 share a group hug on Flight Day 7 of their 10-day journey, a day after completing their successful flyby of the lunar far side. By then, Orion had travelled beyond the lunar sphere of influence, where the moon's gravitational pull is stronger than that of the Earth.

12 - Earth looms large in Orion's window

Earth steadily grew larger in Orion's window in the days that followed, as the spacecraft accelerated dramatically towards our Blue Marble while held tightly in its gravitational embrace. This image was taken from the NASA livestream on April 10 from one of Orion's solar-panel-mounted GoPros, mere hours before re-entry.

13 - Return from the moon

Having journeyed to the moon and back, Artemis 2's Orion capsule descended safely under parachutes. Minutes before, the capsule and its crew had faced the fires of re-entry — and with it a brief loss of communications — following weeks of speculation on the durability of their all important heat shield.

14 - Splashdown

Artemis 2's Orion spacecraft "Integrity" splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. EDT on April 10 (0007 GMT on April 11). The capsule was swiftly surrounded by helicopters and fast boats deployed from the USS John P. Murtha amphibious transport ship.

15 - Pulling Orion from the sea

With the astronauts safely aboard, recovery teams set to work towing the charred Orion spacecraft into the well deck of the USS John P. Murtha. Prior to being moved, the capsule was fitted with an inflatable collar and other buoyancy aides to keep it in the upright "Stable-1" position.

16 - Journey's end

Having returned safely to Earth, Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman rests a hand on the scorched outer hull of the Integrity capsule as it rests on the well deck of the recovery ship. Its NASA logo and American flag are charred but visible above the nozzles of attitude control thrusters, having survived the hostile environment of interplanetary space, and the fires of re-entry.

Want more Artemis 2 stories? Then why not find out what astronauts Wiseman, Koch, Hansen and Glover thought of their historic moon mission in their own words? Be sure to check out our Artemis Program explainer article while you're at it, and discover what NASA has planned for Artemis 3, and beyond.

Where will you be for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026?

If you're within the roughly 190-mile (305 kilometers) wide path of totality through eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, you'll catch a rare total solar eclipse, when the sun's disk is completely blocked, and an eerie twilight descends.

It's an eclipse that demands careful research. While it's high in the sky from Greenland and Iceland, across Spain, the sun will set roughly 20 to 50 minutes after totality, depending on your location... That means it's low in the western sky; about 12 degrees above the horizon as seen from Galicia in northwest Spain and as low as 2 degrees as seen from the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Mallorca, Minorca and Formentera) in the Mediterranean.

Although you can research your own observation point, those in Spain will need to check shadow maps on The Eclipse App or Eclipse Horizon Checker. If you're not confident to do that, consider an organized event — particularly one overseen by astronomers — where eclipse chasers can also share the experience with locals and other eclipse chasers.

Here are 10 fun observing events and festivals to experience the total solar eclipse with others in August.

1. Monte Valonsadero, Spain

The medieval town of Soria, in north-central Spain, has big plans for the eclipse, including a gathering at Monte Valonsadero. A natural park close to the town boasting light-pollution-free skies and Starlight Foundation certification, Valonsadero will host thousands of people, with plans underway for music, food, drinks and a free shuttle service from the city center.

2. Eclipse Festival 2026, Spain

Many thousands will miss this eclipse because sightlines to the low sun haven't been checked, which is a good reason to head to Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades (PAP) in Catalonia, Spain, as an astronomical park that's home to Eclipse Festival 2026 — Prades. Expect music, workshops, lectures, observations, shows, telescopes and a planetarium during the Aug. 10-13 event. As a bonus, the park offers Starlight Foundation-certified stargazing under one of southern Europe's darkest skies — ideal for the peak of the Perseids hours after totality.

3. Blue Lagoon Total Eclipse 2026

As if the lava fields of Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula weren't already an other-worldly location to experience totality, the famous Blue Lagoon will host a special event for the eclipse. At the geothermal spa set in a lava field, a US $750 ticket gets you into its blue, mineral-rich waters for totality, complete with a shuttle bus from Reykjavík, a two-course meal, two drinks, a bathrobe and towel and eclipse glasses for the partial phases.

4. EclipseFest 2026, Spain

In a cruel twist of fate, both Barcelona and Madrid are just outside the path of totality. However, the latter makes a great base for entering the path to the north. Just a 40-minute drive north is Aldea Santillana, an estate on the banks of the Atazar Reservoir usually used for weddings and events. On Aug. 12, it will host EclipseFest 2026, complete with activities, a welcome pack with glasses and guided eclipse viewing. Tickets cost €147 (adults) and €117 (children), and there are options to stay at the hotel. It's organized by the astrotourism company El Nocturnario.

5. Ibiza PlayAbout Radio Fest, Ibiza

It's perhaps not a surprise that an island globally renowned for partying and super-clubs is planning one or two gatherings for the eclipse, though some venues have limited views of the low western horizon. Being staged from Aug. 10-14 by an internet radio station dedicated to house and techno, Ibiza PlayAbout Radio Fest, the action takes place across various venues on the White Isle. The key event is The Eclipse Boat Party, soundtracked by house music DJ Dario Nunez. Other events are best avoided; Jet Ibiza's Jet Apartments are on the east coast, so pool party-goers will struggle to see anything of the eclipsed sun.

6. Umbra Festival, Spain

If you're up for a 40-hour electronic music gathering, head to the Umbra Festival in northwest Spain from 4:00 p.m. CEST on Aug. 11, through 10:00 a.m. CEST on Aug. 13. Taking place at Agolada Lake (Pantano de Brocos) — actually a reservoir — expect a blend of house and minimal music. It's about an hour's drive from the tourist center of Santiago de Compostela in a quiet, agricultural region of rolling hills, river valleys and dark skies in the interior of Galicia. The only drawback is the limited duration of totality. Tickets are €62.15.

7. Iberia Eclipse, Spain

Expect 5,000-10,000 people for five days of music, art and ceremony from Aug. 10-14 at Iberia Eclipse Festival 2026. Taking place near Vinuesa, just northwest of Soria, close to the Douro River, the festival will include tent camping and pre-setup tents, four stages spread across the hillside and forest, workshops, wild swimming and art. Expect trance and techno day and night — but a pause for totality. Tickets start at €240.

8. Astral Plane, Spain

Held in La Pinilla ski resort in Spain's Sierra Ayllón, Astral Plane is just an hour's drive north of Madrid. Totality is expected to occur during a headline set by Detroit techno artist Kevin Saunderson, who'll be halfway through a four-hour set. There are plans for similar events for the total solar eclipses in 2027 (also in Spain) and 2028 (Australia and New Zealand). Tickets cost from €175.

9. Sizigia Eclipse Gathering

Here's another major event being planned in a location that will enjoy totality — but only just. Close to the northern limit of the path of totality, just 40 seconds of totality will grace Sizigia Eclipse, a five-day "underground music" festival taking place from Aug. 10-14 beside a reservoir. Importantly, organizers promise a collective viewing from an elevated, open site with clear western horizon views. Tickets cost €262.50 tickets, with optional extras including a tipi camp and a shuttle bus from Barcelona and Zaragoza.

10. Iceland Eclipse Festival

Iceland Eclipse Festival in Hellissandur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is almost as close to the eclipse's maximum point as it's possible to get on land. Running from Aug. 12-15, the event will include live music, presentations and panels across two stages. Burning Man, SXSW and TED inspire it.

On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across the night side of Earth, with the best views from Australia, the Pacific, and the western half of North America. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon drifts into Earth's shadow, with the only light reaching its surface filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which turns it a reddish color that earns it the nickname "blood moon."

A global event happening at the same time across the world, the epicentre is the Pacific, where the eclipse takes place overhead around midnight early on March 3. To the west (Australia), it occurs late on March 3, and to the east (North America), it occurs early on March 3.

You don't need a dark sky to watch a total lunar eclipse — but it helps. The event stars as a full moon bleaching the night sky, making all but the brightest stars hard to see. However, by the time totality begins, the night sky will have darkened so much that it's possible to see not just stars, but faint clusters and the Milky Way — just as you might experience during a new moon. So while using a light pollution map or the Dark Sky Place finder isn't strictly necessary, it will bring an extra dimension to the experience.

The best places to watch the eclipse will be those with clear skies. Weather forecasts can only be relied upon about three days out, but you can stack the odds by studying a potential location's historical climate data for average cloud cover. That's what we've done here, using Eclipsophile.com — which specialises in global cloud cover data for solar and lunar eclipses — to select locations most likely to have a clear sky, which in March, may be a challenge. All times and cloud statistics come from Time and Date.

Here are 10 spectacular viewing locations for this rare celestial event, which won't be repeated anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028-2029.

1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, U.S.

Grand Canyon National Park has been an International Dark Sky Park since 2015, when light fixtures in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim were replaced to reduce light pollution. Great places to stargaze on the south rim include Grand Canyon Visitor Center (the most convenient), Mather Point, Hermit's Rest and the many pullouts on the flat Rim Trail.

2. Horsetooth Mountain, Colorado, U.S.

This public stargazing event at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, organised by the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society and publicised by NASA, will be held from 3:30-5:30 a.m. MST.

3. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

The remote area in the Flinders Ranges and Outback of South Australia has been protected since 2012, when it became a sanctuary for both wildlife and darkness. There are lodges and astronomy experiences.

4. Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park, Australia

Australia will get a fabulous view of this total lunar eclipse, but observers will have a much greater chance if they get inland. A good choice is Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park near Coonabarabran (aka 'Australia's Astronomy Capital') in central western New South Wales, Australia's first and only Dark Sky Park. It's home to Australia's famous Siding Spring Observatory, with Warrumbungle Observatory located in Coonabarabran.

5. Saguaro National Park, Arizona, U.S.

Although Tucson itself doesn't fare too well on a light pollution map, it's surrounded by glorious stargazing opportunities (check out the Tucson Astro Trail map) and world-class observatories at Kitt Peak, Mount Graham and Mount Lemmon. Just east of the city, in the Sonoran Desert, is Saguaro National Park, the world's ninth Urban Night Sky Place. The park is open 24 hours.

6. Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, New Zealand

Outdoor lighting is regulated throughout the Wairarapa Valley on the North Island of New Zealand, where lunar totality will occur just after midnight. Most of the dark-sky reserve is easily accessible for night-sky viewing.

7. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, U.S.

The largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in the Colorado Desert, has been a dark sky park since 2018, with Borrego a dark sky community.

8. Big Island, Hawaii, U.S.

With the eclipse overhead as seen from Hawaii, you will get a great view anywhere. If you're after a dark sky, the best places to be on the Big Island are either on Maunakea (the destination of many stargazing tours) or on the darker south or northeast coasts.

9. Joshua Tree National Park, California, U.S.

Although there's been a recent wildfire and some concerns about astrophotography workshops, independent travel to one of the most renowned stargazing destinations in California should still be possible if well planned. Make a camping reservation in advance on recreation.gov.

10. Death Valley National Park, Nevada, U.S.

With no closing time and a spectacularly dark sky, Death Valley National Park is worth considering for a great view of the total lunar eclipse. Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes or Harmony Borax Works are recommended for astrophotographers.

Skywatchers have plenty to look forward to in 2026, with a lineup of dazzling naked-eye events in the night sky throughout the year. From total solar and lunar eclipses and brilliant planetary conjunctions to iconic meteor showers peaking under moonless night skies and a festive supermoon, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Although all of these events will be visible to the naked eye, a nice pair of binoculars and a good beginner telescope can significantly enhance your experience.

Here are 15 must-see skywatching events to mark on your calendar for 2026.

1. Jupiter at opposition: Jan. 10, 2026 (all night)

Jupiter will dominate the night sky in early 2026. In early January, the gas giant will align with Earth and the sun to reach its full phase, called opposition. This happens once every 13 months, and it's the best time to observe the giant planet. That's partly because it's the brightest it will be all year but also because it rises in the eastern sky at sunset and sinks in the west at sunrise.

2. "Blood moon" total lunar eclipse: March 2-3, 2026 (night to early morning)

During the first and only total lunar eclipse of 2026, March's full Worm Moon will pass through Earth's shadow, making it appear as a reddish-orange "blood moon" for 58 minutes. The March 2026 total lunar eclipse will be visible across western North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific. It will be the last total lunar eclipse until a rather special one on New Year's Eve 2028-2029. In North America, totality will occur on the night of March 2 or early morning hours of March 3, depending on the time zone.

Related: March 2026 total lunar eclipse: Everything you need to know about the next 'blood moon'

3. Close conjunction of the moon, the Pleiades and Venus: April 19, 2026 (after sunset)

4. Eta Aquarid meteor shower: May 5-6, 2026 (before midnight)

The Eta Aquarid meteor shower produces up to 50 meteors per hour, making it one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year and the clear highlight of spring's "shooting star" season. The last-quarter moon rising around midnight makes early evening the best time to see the Eta Aquarids (also spelled Eta Aquariids), which are caused by the debris from Halley's Comet left in the inner solar system, although the best views will be from the Southern Hemisphere.

5. Conjunction of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury: June 9, 2026 (after sunset)

The two brightest planets in the solar system, Venus and Jupiter, will shine together for a few evenings, getting as close as 1.5 degrees — about the width of a finger held at arm's length against the sky. The duo will be visible in the western sky just after sunset, with the best view on June 9. As a bonus, Mercury will make a rare appearance below the two bright planets.

6. Total solar eclipse: Aug. 12, 2026 (daytime)

The celestial highlight of the year will be the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, which will be seen from eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. As the first total solar eclipse in mainland Europe since 1999, it is bound to be busy, especially because it falls during the European holiday season. Iceland has not seen a total solar eclipse since 1954, and Spain has not since 1906. (Spain will also see one in 2027.) The Mediterranean will be busy with cruise ships for a close-to-sunset totality, but maximum totality will occur for 2 minutes, 18 seconds off the coast of Iceland. A partial solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Europe, northwestern Africa, Canada, Alaska and the northeastern U.S.

Related: Total solar eclipse 2026 — Everything you need to know

7. Perseid meteor shower: Aug. 12, 2026 (night)

The Perseid meteor shower was pretty much a washout in 2025, with the peak night blighted by moonlight. Happily, the Northern Hemisphere's favorite display of "shooting stars" will fare much better in 2026. In fact, the peak night, Aug. 12-13, will occur just hours after a total solar eclipse, which, by definition, can happen only during a new moon. Eclipse chasers in Spain, in particular, could see two of astronomy's most spectacular events on the same day. About 60 to 120 Perseid meteors are expected to radiate from the constellation Perseus, but they may appear anywhere in the night sky from late night to predawn.

8. Venus as the "evening star": Aug. 15, 2026 (after sunset)

Because it's an inner planet as seen from Earth, Venus alternates between being visible before sunrise and after sunset. In 2026, it will appear as the "evening star," reaching its farthest distance from the sunset in August. After that, Venus will gradually sink in the sky; it will become half-lit by the sun in August, before reaching its brightest in late September, when it will be low on the horizon.

9. Partial lunar eclipse: Aug. 27-28, 2026 (night)

It won't quite be a "blood moon," but the August 2026 lunar eclipse is as close as it comes. It will be a very deep partial lunar eclipse, with over 96% of the moon entering Earth's shadow, although it will not become total. For observers on Earth's night side in North America, South America, parts of Europe and Africa, the chief sight will be the edge of Earth's shadow creeping across the lunar surface, and perhaps a hint of red as totality is approached but then snatched away.

10. Saturn at opposition: Oct. 4, 2026 (night)

Earth passes between Saturn and the sun once each year. At that time, the ringed planet is closer, and thus bigger and brighter, from our point of view. In 2026, that will happen in October. Look for Saturn's golden glow in the east after dark from August onward, with notable conjunctions with the moon on Sept. 27, Oct. 24, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18.

11. Close conjunction of the moon and Mars: Oct. 5, 2026 (before sunrise)

Just one day after Saturn peaks in brightness, Mars and a 32%-illuminated waning crescent moon will meet in the early-morning sky, with only about 1 degree between them. Just beneath the pair will be the beautiful Beehive Cluster (Messier 44) and Jupiter.

12. Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars: Nov. 14-15, 2026 (before sunrise on Nov. 15)

There will be plenty of opportunities to see the planets together in 2026, but this close conjunction of the fourth and fifth planets from the sun is likely to be the highlight. Mars and Jupiter will appear closest — just 1 degree apart — in the predawn sky on Nov. 15, though, to the naked eye, they'll appear very close for a few evenings before and after that. Venus and Mercury will also be on display, with the former in shining close with bright star Spica.

13. Christmas supermoon: Dec. 24, 2026 (dusk)

November 2025 may have seen the biggest full moon since 2019, but in December 2026, our natural satellite will go one step further by getting closer to Earth than at any point since 2018. The moon's orbit is elliptical, so some full moons appear bigger and brighter from Earth. These are known as supermoons, and there will be three of them in 2026 — on Jan. 3, Nov. 24 and Dec. 23. Catch them at moonrise for the full "moon illusion" effect.

14. Leonid meteor shower: Nov. 17-18, 2026 (night)

2026 should be a good year for the Leonid meteor shower, a display of particularly fast-moving "shooting stars" from Comet Tempel-Tuttle. This year, the peak coincides with a near-first-quarter moon, which means dark, moonless skies after midnight — exactly when about 15 meteors per hour are expected. The Leonids tend to storm roughly every 33 years, with the next possibility around 2032 to 2033.

15. Geminid meteor shower: Dec. 13-14, 2026 (night)

We obsess over the Perseids in August, but it's December's Geminids that bring the most "shooting stars," albeit in much colder temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. Expect up to 120 bright and colorful meteors per hour under optimum conditions during the peak of the Geminid meteor shower. The cause of this annual event is a mysterious asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.

Jamie Carter is the author of "Stargazing In 2026: 50 Things To See In The Night Sky From North America."

The sky served up no shortage of spectacle in 2025 —from lunar liaisons, solar prominences and fleeting meteor showers, to aurora and nebula scenes that unfold on a scale almost too massive for the human mind to comprehend.

And while we experience the cosmos first through the human eye, our vision has limits. We can't zoom in on distant nebulas, see the faintest glows, or safely take in the brightest targets — and much of the electromagnetic spectrum is invisible to us entirely.

Thankfully, the Space.com community is packed with talented photographers and observers armed with sophisticated cameras, clever techniques and powerful telescopes capable of revealing the hidden majesty of the cosmos. Read on for a selection of breathtaking images captured by astrophotographers around the world and featured on Space.com throughout 2025.

10 Incredible astrophotography highlights of 2025

1. Plasma twists above the solar surface

Astrophotographer Mark Johnston captured a jaw-droppingly detailed view of hydrogen plasma suspended in the powerful magnetic field above the sun on Oct. 20 from Willow Springs, Arizona, using a TEC160FL refractor telescope fitted with specialized filters.

2. A nebula shark is spied hunting through the depths of space

Ronald Brecher, meanwhile, set his sights further afield, targeting a spectacular deep-space nebula vista in the constellation Cepheus, some 650 light-years from Earth, which happens to resemble a vast cosmic shark swimming through deep space.

3. The moon and sun meet over Stonehenge

This gorgeous composite shot detailing the phases of a partial solar eclipse unfolding above the ancient monument of Stonehenge was captured by award-winning photographer Josh Dury as the moon slid between the sun and Earth on March 29.

4. Comet Lemmon twists in the solar wind

In a year packed full of phenomenal cometary capers, astrophotographer Dan Bartlett captured a staggering image of comet C/2025 A6 (LEMMON) looking its best as it shone in the skies over June Lake, California, on Sept. 26, as its tail twisted in the relentless stream of the solar wind.

5. The northern lights from 36,000 feet

Of course, not all of the best astrophotography subjects exist beyond Earth's atmosphere. Airline pilot Matt Melnyk snapped an impressive view of the northern lights shining in the upper atmosphere from a height of 36,000 feet (11 kilometers), while shepherding a Boeing 787 from London to Calgary during a geomagnetic storm on Nov. 12.

6. A cosmic baboon rages light-years from Earth

Astrophotographer Greg Meyer captured light of a more ancient variety while imaging a nebula 500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Corona Australis, which takes on the shape of a mandrill with glowing blue eyes in long-exposure photography.

7. Perseid meteors race the Milky Way

This stunning composite from Josh Dury shows shooting stars belonging to the annual Perseid meteor shower streaking towards the horizon alongside the glowing band of the Milky Way above the iconic Durdle Door rock formation in Dorset, United Kingdom.

8. An 'Elve' red halo flashes to life over the Italian Alps

Valter Binotto, meanwhile, was able to capture a split-second view of a red ring manifesting over the Italian Alps on Nov. 17. This strange phenomenon, known as an "elve", is a super-rare form of lightning that occurs in the upper atmosphere, which lasts less than a thousandth of a second and can span up to 300 miles (480 km) in diameter, according to NOAA.

9. Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) crosses the Eagle Nebula

Astronomer Daniele Gasparri seized the opportunity to image the glowing green coma and diffuse tail of comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) as it passed in front of the Eagle Nebula in the constellation Serpens, the serpent on the night of Oct. 17. Look to the left of the comet to find the iconic Pillars of Creation — vast collections of dust and gas made famous by the Hubble Space Telescope — nestled beneath a population of stars close to the nebula's glowing core.

10. A blood moon over Egypt

Finally, photographer Osama Fathi captured a beautiful composite scene chronicling the rise of the Sept. 7 "Blood Moon" as it soared into the skies over the chalk formations in Egypt's White Desert, while contending with the shifting light conditions and destabilizing gusts of wind.

Feeling inspired to take the first steps on your own astrophotography journey? Then why not check out our picks of the best cameras and lenses for imaging the night sky to ensure that you're ready for 2026.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

A bevy of supermoons, a dramatic total solar eclipse and a "blood moon" total lunar eclipse are some of the highlights of the coming lunar year, which will also include plenty of beautiful close conjunctions of the crescent moon and planets.

Here are some dates for this year's moon-gazing diary.

Most of these events are perfect for naked-eye viewing, but our guides to the best telescopes and binoculars will give you a closer look, and our dedicated moon-observing guide will help you become a skilled moon-gazer.

1. The year's first supermoon: Jan. 3, 2026 (dusk)

The first full moon of 2026, January's Wolf Moon, will be a supermoon, meaning it will appear larger and brighter because it will be at or near its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. Although it's the first of three supermoons in 2026, it's the last in a series of four from the back end of 2025.

2. "Ring of fire" annular solar eclipse: Feb. 17, 2026 (daytime)

Will anyone be able to see the "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026? The moon will eclipse up to 96% of the sun's center for up to 2 minutes, 20 seconds, but only for scientists at a few research stations — the French-Italian Concordia Station in the interior and the Russian Mirny Station in Queen Mary Land on the Davis Sea coast. A partial solar eclipse will be seen across Antarctica and from parts of southern Africa and Argentina.

Related: Annular solar eclipse 2026: Everything you need to know about the 'ring of fire'

Crescent moon and Mercury: Feb. 18, 2026 (after sunset)

About 45 minutes after sunset on Feb. 18, something relatively rare will be on show: a conjunction between a superslim crescent moon and the elusive planet Mercury. Visible low in the western sky, the moon will be barely 2%-lit, so you'll likely need binoculars to see it. Below will be Venus, with Saturn above.

4. "Blood moon" total lunar eclipse: March 2-3, 2026 (night to early morning)

Total lunar eclipses often come in threes. There were two in 2025, one of which wowed skywatchers in North America, and the final in the trio comes in early March 2026 — the last until 2029. During this event, the full Worm Moon will transit Earth's shadow to become a reddish-orange "blood moon" for 58 minutes as seen from parts of western North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific.

5. Crescent moon and Venus: March 20, 2026 (after sunset)

The sight of a young moon close to a bright planet will be on offer about 45 minutes after sunset on March 20, when a 5%-lit waxing crescent moon will hang above the bright planet Venus. Find an unobstructed western horizon, and take along a pair of binoculars.

6. Crescent moon, Venus and the Pleiades: April 19, 2026 (after sunset)

Look west an hour after sunset on April 19 for a spectacular panorama close to the sinking stars of Orion as a 9%-lit waxing crescent moon gets close to the Pleiades (also known as the "Seven Sisters" star cluster), with bright Venus below.

7. Total solar eclipse: Aug. 12, 2026 (daytime)

Even though it won't be visible, the moon will arguably perform its greatest trick of all on Aug. 12, 2026, when its silhouette will perfectly block the sun for up to 2 minutes, 18 seconds, as seen from eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. All of Europe will experience a deep partial solar eclipse, while North America will see a small partial eclipse.

Related: Total solar eclipse 2026 — Everything you need to know

8. Partial lunar eclipse: Aug. 27-28, 2026 (after dark)

The second lunar eclipse of 2026 — which will be visible from North America, South America, Europe and Africa — won't quite live up to the first in March. Although the moon will enter Earth's central shadow in space, a 4% sliver of it won't, causing the lunar surface to turn mostly reddish. Although there will be no totality, the edge of Earth's shadow will gradually move across the moon and back again, which is always a grand sight.

9. Moon in the Beehive Cluster: Sept. 8, 2026 (before sunrise)

Look east about 45 minutes before sunrise to see a lovely 9%-lit waning crescent moon just beneath the Beehive Cluster, also known as M44, which contains about 1,000 stars and is located 600 light-years from the solar system. You'll need binoculars to see M44 properly.

10. Moon in conjunction with Saturn: Sept. 26, 2026 (after sunset)

Saturn will be prominent in the night sky in late 2026, but it will become most noticeable when the moon passes close by. That happens in the east on Sept. 26, just before the moon turns full.

11. A crescent moon and Jupiter: Oct. 6. 2026 (before sunrise)

Here comes a rare and special sight: a very close conjunction of the moon and Jupiter, with just 10 arc seconds (three-thousandths of a degree) separating them. Best seen in the east about 90 minutes before sunrise, the moon will be about 20% lit, with "Earthshine" visible on its night side, closest to the giant planet.

12. A crescent moon close to Mars and Jupiter: Nov. 2, 2026 (before sunrise)

Mars won't be in the night sky for much of the first half of 2026, but by October, it will be visible in the southeast before sunrise. On Nov. 2, 2026, the Red Planet will be visited by a 43%-lit waning crescent moon, with Jupiter just below.

13. The closest supermoon since 2019: Dec. 23, 2026 (dusk)

In 2026, there will be three supermoons — on Jan. 3, Nov. 24 and Dec. 23 — but one is a standout. The full moon on Dec. 23 will be the closest full moon to Earth since 2019. At just 221,668 miles (356,740 kilometers) from our planet, it will edge out the Feb. 19, 2019, supermoon by about 60 miles (100 km), making it the biggest and brightest full moon in nearly eight years. However, two supermoons will come even closer on Feb. 10, 2028, and March 30, 2029.

Jamie Carter is the author of "Stargazing In 2026: 50 Things To See In The Night Sky From North America."

What was your skywatching highlight of 2025? A comet becoming visible to the naked eye? Mars disappearing behind the moon? Or did you glimpse a "blood moon" total lunar eclipse and see the northern lights at last?

Here's what happened in the skies in 2025, in spectacular images.

1. A Wolf Moon "eats" Mars

Mars comes to a bright opposition in Earth's sky only once every 26 months. But just before its big day came on Jan. 15, it grabbed skywatchers' attention when it crossed paths with the moon. North America had a ringside seat to the full Wolf Moon's occultation of the Red Planet, which happens just once every 14 years from a specific place on Earth's surface.

Read more: Mars hides behind the full Wolf Moon in gorgeous photos from around the world

2. A "great comet" appears

If you don't remember 2025's "great comet," it's probably because you're in the Northern Hemisphere. Back in mid- to late January, Comet 2024 G3 (ATLAS) made a close pass of the sun before sprouting a bright, structured tail that delighted astrophotographers south of the equator. The comet even became bright enough to be visible in the daytime with the naked eye.

Read more: Why Comet G3 (ATLAS) will be 'remembered as the Great Comet of 2025' (photos)

3. "Blue Ghost" lands on the moon

After launching atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in January, Texas-based Firefly Aerospace successfully landed its Blue Ghost spacecraft on the moon's 300-mile-wide (500 kilometers) Mare Crisium ("Sea of Crises") basin in early March, becoming the second private spacecraft ever to soft-land on the moon. The company shared a spectacular video showing Blue Ghost's descent and spectacular landing, complete with its own long lunar shadow.

Read more: Touch down on the moon with private Blue Ghost lander in this amazing video

4. A star trail is visible from orbit

Between September 2024 and April 2025, NASA astronaut Don Pettit — famed for his pioneering work in astrophotography from orbit — conducted his third mission on the International Space Station. In collaboration with astrophotographer Babak Tafreshi of The World at Night on the ground, Pettit took the art form to another level, capturing dozens of mesmerizing star trails.

Read more: Astronaut takes a mind-bending trip over Earth beneath star trails: Space photo of the day

5. A "blood moon" total lunar eclipse captivates skywatchers

The first total lunar eclipse in three years delighted skywatchers on March 13-14, 2025, when a full Worm Moon crept through Earth's central shadow in space for 65 minutes, making the lunar surface appear reddish-orange from our perspective on Earth. The event, visible from Earth's nightside, was captured with a moonbow from Kentucky and with the Milky Way from Chile. Another lunar eclipse on Sept. 7-8 made for some spectacular photos, including one taken over Egypt's White Desert.

Read more: Total lunar eclipse March 2025: Best photos of the "Blood Worm Moon"

6. Vapor tracers appear inside auroras

Just as an aurora substorm erupted, two NASA sounding rockets poised for launch at Alaska's Poker Flat Research Range suddenly went skyward, releasing colorful vapor tracers within the aurora borealis, or northern lights. As part of the AWESOME mission, vapor tracers were imaged using cameras across northern Alaska to track winds, particle flows and magnetic changes during the outburst.

Read more: NASA launches rockets into auroras, creating breathtaking lights in Alaskan skies (photos)

7. Perseids blast through moonlight

It may be the Northern Hemisphere's favorite annual meteor shower, but the Perseids weren't a classic in 2025, as they were marred by an 84%-illuminated crescent moon. However, before the peak night of the Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 12-13, there was a short window of darkness, during which a few bright meteors were seen in the predawn hours. About 10 days before the peak night, NASA photographer Bill Ingalls took this long exposure of a Perseid meteor in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

Read more: Perseid meteor shower 2025 outshines moon to put on a spectacular show (photos)

8. An interstellar comet grows a tail

For comet hunters, 2025 was a landmark year, primarily because it saw the discovery of the third interstellar object ever to visit our solar system. Comet 3I/ATLAS, as it came to be known, followed in the wake of 'Oumuamua (1I/2017 U1) in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. In late August, astronomers using the Gemini South telescope in Chile glimpsed the tail of the interstellar interloper.

Read more: Scientists capture interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS growing a tail

9. Solar maximum continues to deliver

Following an incredible year in 2024, it was likely that 2025 would experience some significant geomagnetic activity, thanks to solar maximum, the peak of the 11-year solar cycle. Observers in the right place at the right time on April 14-15, June 1, June 17 and Sept. 2 (and many other dates) enjoyed spectacular auroras as G4 geomagnetic storms produced auroras at low latitudes.

Read more: Severe G4 geomagnetic storm sparks northern lights across US and beyond (photos)

10. Comet Lemmon ripens

What are the chances of a naked-eye comet becoming visible on the same night as the peak of the Orionid meteor shower? Although it was only on the cusp of naked-eye visibility — and was visible only to astrophotographers in the Northern Hemisphere — Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) put on a show in mid- to late October. A surprise companion, Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN), appeared in telescope images on Sept. 10. But although it was initially bright, it never got as luminous as Lemmon.

Read more: Astrophotographers capture dazzling new views of Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) as it brightens for October skies

When was the last time you stood under a truly dark sky? Today, the LED glare of streetlights, security lamps and car headlights overwhelms starlight for most of us. More than 80% of people worldwide now live under light-polluted skies, and in North America the vast majority can no longer see the Milky Way.

Away from urban centers, however, darkness thrives — even in North America. Astronomers measure sky darkness on the Bortle scale, a nine-point system where 1 is the darkest possible sky and 9 is an inner-city night. A Bortle 1 sky reveals the Milky Way so bright it can cast shadows; at Bortle 7 or higher, it all but disappears.

For those seeking dark skies, a light pollution map is essential, but so is timing. Plan visits around the new moon, ideally visiting in the week before or the few nights after, to avoid moonlight washing out the stars.

Related: New moon calendar 2025: When is the next new moon?

No list is exhaustive, but here are 10 of the best stargazing locations in North America that fall into the coveted Bortle 1 to 2 range.

Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah

International Dark Sky Places certified by the nonprofit DarkSky International now cover 62,000 square miles (160,000 square kilometers) in 22 countries on six continents. However, it all began at Natural Bridges National Monument, which became the first designated Dark Sky Park in 2007. This beautiful, albeit small, park in Utah is a paradise for astrophotographers. There are three cast sandstone arches — Kachina, Sipapu and Owachomo — the latter of which has the Milky Way streaming behind it in the summer. With the cliff dwellings of the ancestral Puebloans all around, there's a timeless feeling. Camping is limited and first-come, first-served.

Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania

There are very few places for stargazers on the U.S. East Coast to go in the search for truly dark skies. The best option is Cherry Springs State Park, which sits on a high plateau in northern Pennsylvania. It has a dedicated overnight astronomy observation field atop a 2,300-foot-high (700-meter) mountain, which offers a 360-degree view of the night sky. There's also a night sky public viewing area and a rustic campground designed for casual stargazers. The Black Forest Star Party takes place here every September.

Jasper National Park, Alberta

Although DarkSky International designations for dark sky places are becoming more common around the world, there are other certifying bodies, including the Starlight Foundation and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (which has Dark-Sky Preserves, Urban Star Parks and Nocturnal Preserves). Jasper National Park, in Alberta, is well known to amateur astronomers and hosts the Jasper Dark Sky Festival each October. The 2024 wildfire that burned 89,000 acres (36,000 hectares) of the Canadian Rockies resort town of Jasper was tragic and has left a desolate landscape in some areas.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico

Here's an absolute gem of astrotourism that has to be seen to be believed. A thousand years ago, the ancestral Puebloans aligned their Great Houses to solstices and lunar standstills, and their structures remain for us to marvel at. The spectacular loop drive is closed at night, but there are plenty of opportunities for astrophotography and astronomy, with an on-site observatory that hosts public telescope nights as part of a thorough night sky program. You can also experience the equinoxes and solstices at sunrise at Casa Rinconada, a Chacoan great kiva.

Black Mesa State Park, Oklahoma

In extreme northwest Oklahoma, close to the borders with New Mexico and Colorado, is Black Mesa Nature Reserve. This area surrounding Black Mesa State Park comprises 1,600 acres (650 hectares) of black lava rock where the Rocky Mountains meet the prairie. Golden eagles, scaled quail, black-billed magpies and pinyon jays make this a perfect place for bird-watching by day and stargazing by night. With some of the darkest skies in the U.S., Black Mesa State Park is always busy for the annual Perseid meteor shower and the venue for September's Okie-Tex Star Party.

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

If you want the chance to photograph reflections in water of (occasional) auroras as well as stars and the Milky Way, head to the remote wilderness of Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. This maze of lakes and islands hosts houseboats as well as celestial reflections, with auroras possible by dint of its location at 48 degrees north along the U.S.-Canada border. In August, the park hosts its Voyageurs Star Party with ranger-led telescope programs, but September through March is the best time to see the northern lights (if geomagnetic activity is high).

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Big Bend National Park, which boasts Bortle 1 night skies, is part of the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, which in 2022 became the only Dark Sky Reserve straddling the international border with Mexico. Big Bend National Park has the least light pollution of any national park in the U.S., so that's where to head. The rugged Davis Mountains in the north of the region host the McDonald Observatory and Davis Mountains State Park, where visitors can use giant telescopes.

Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

A Dark Sky Preserve since 2009, Saskatchewan's Grasslands National Park covers 281 square miles (729 square km) of prairie badlands, where horizons are endless and perfect for viewing the Milky Way to the south. It's about as close to Bortle 1 perfection as it gets and hosts a dark sky festival each May.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Not all top-grade places for stargazing are designated as dark sky places of some kind. Case in point: Crater Lake in Oregon, whose elevation of 6,178 feet (1,883 m) gives it a thinner atmosphere that reduces distortion, making it great for stargazing. A vast body of water in the caldera of a volcano that collapsed 8,000 years ago, the northern side of Rim Road is where to see the Milky Way reflected in the water — if it's still. There are several campgrounds, but you'll need wheels to get there and to get around at night. Note that forest fire smoke in late summer can degrade visibility, so check ahead.

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, Montana and Alberta

A combination of Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is all about landscapes, with prairie, forest, alpine and glacial vistas. At night, this isolated, rugged region is ideal for stargazing, with astronomy programs and Logan Pass Star Parties in Glacier National Park in July and August.

If you want to experience the longest total solar eclipse for the next 87 years, make plans for Aug. 2, 2027. To enjoy a whopping 6 minutes, 21 seconds of totality, you must go to Luxor, Egypt. However, the closeness of the new moon to Earth during the eclipse means it will be possible to experience a long totality from areas of Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

You can even combine the "eclipse of the century" with "Star Wars" film sets, a recently discovered "lost city" of ancient Egypt, the Rock of Gibraltar, and Andalusia's most splendid Moorish palaces. Here are 10 unique experiences to consider for the 2027 total solar eclipse.

Related: 16 best places to see the 2027 total solar eclipse

Midday at an oasis

Many organized tours are going to Luxor for the maximum totality, but there are other choices in Egypt. One is this nine-day expedition with Astro Trails from July 27 to Aug. 4, 2027, which will witness the total solar eclipse in the remote Siwa Oasis. Close to the Great Sand Sea in the Western Desert — and only 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of the border with Libya — Siwa Oasis will get 5 minutes, 25 seconds of totality. The tour also includes Cairo (with the Giza pyramids, Sphinx and the new Grand Egyptian Museum), Alexandria, and El Alamein.

Totality in a "Lost Golden City"

Would you like to witness the eclipse from Egypt but avoid the crowded temples, cruise ships and hotels in Luxor? Why not view the event as a VIP in the 3,000-year-old "lost golden city" of Aten? Built by the pharaoh Akhenaten, who was dedicated to worshipping the sun's disk, the ancient city was discovered in 2020 near Luxor by Zahi Hawass, one of the world's most famous archaeologists and former minister of tourism and antiquities in Egypt. On this expensive tour from Archaeological Paths, Hawass will take you to see the lost city, which was previously closed to tourists, to view the entire eclipse.

From Tatooine to totality

This eight-day odyssey from Astro Trails through Tunisia blends ancient culture, cinematic nostalgia and one of nature's greatest spectacles. After exploring the medinas of Tunis and Kairouan, Tunisia, travelers head deep into the Sahara to visit iconic "Star Wars" filming locations, including Mos Espa and the Sidi Idris Hotel (Lars' homestead). Visits include the Kerkennah Islands and the largest colosseum in North Africa, with a total solar eclipse visible for 5 minutes, 40 seconds from Chaffar Beach.

A British eclipse in Gibraltar

When you're looking at locations within the path of totality, it's tempting to choose somewhere dramatic. One such option is the Rock of Gibraltar, in the British overseas territory on the tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Imagine standing next to Barbary macaques while watching the eclipsed sun above the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

One big risk for the eclipse, though, is that it's often very cloudy there. Be at sea level on the eastern side for 4 minutes, 32 seconds of totality. There are no organized tours, but Gibraltar is getting ready.

Birds and baboons in Saudi Arabia

Both Jeddah and Mecca in Saudi Arabia are in the path of totality. However, the 10-day "Wings and Wonders" tour from Saudi Birding is conducted through southwest Saudi Arabia, where endemic and rare migrant species are abundant. The tour begins in Jeddah and then travels down the Red Sea coast, where totality will be enjoyed on the second day from a resort. It will be followed by birding and animal spotting across wadis, mangroves and desert highlands, with targets including pelicans, flamingos, kingfishers, hamadryas baboons and gazelles. Visits include Thee Ain Heritage Village, the Hanging Village of Al Habala, and the Farasan Islands.

Red Sea resort

Hurghada, a beach resort town on Egypt's Red Sea coast, renowned for scuba diving, is just north of the path and gets only a 98.5% partial eclipse. However, a long stretch of the Red Sea coast to the south will experience totality. Red Sea Diving Safari has three coastal resorts in the path — Marsa Shagra (5 minutes, 8 seconds), Marsa Nakari (5 minutes, 42 seconds) and Wadi Lahami (6 minutes, 14 seconds). All can be booked through the German tour operator Beluga Reisen. If you'd prefer a solitary totality, it's even possible to reserve a "liveaboard" — floating accommodation — for a trip to a remote dive site.

Sustainability in the shadow

Eclipse chasing is about seeing the world according to a celestial timetable, but it's also a way to visit places you never knew existed. This unique 10-day journey — from Cairo's pyramids, museums and Coptic landmarks to the Bahariya Oasis in the Western Desert — blends ancient wonders and astronomy with something unexpected: sustainability. It begins with a few days at the pioneering SEKEM initiative — Egypt's acclaimed biodynamic farming and education project — before visiting Cairo, Bahariya Oasis, the White and Black Deserts, ancient tombs and the famed "Golden Mummies." Totality will be experienced from the grounds of a hotel and will last 6 minutes, 16 seconds.

Tapas and casbahs across the Strait of Gibraltar

Ask many eclipse chasers about the 2027 eclipse, and all you'll hear about is Egypt, where totality will last the longest. However, the path also crosses southern Spain and northern Morocco. This 13-day trip from Travel Leaders explores Madrid, Córdoba and Seville before crossing the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier and visiting the blue-hued Chefchaouen Medina. It peaks with a totality of 4 minutes, 51 seconds from the centerline of the path of totality near M'diq on Morocco's Mediterranean coast.

Astrophotography in Andalucía

This exclusive 10-day photo workshop from Backcountry Journeys is all about photography, with two subjects: Spain's gorgeous region of Andalucía and the sun's corona above it. Beginning in Málaga, the journey winds through Andalucía's cultural gems — Granada, Sevilla and Córdoba — offering golden-hour shoots at iconic sites like La Alhambra and Plaza de España. But the real highlight comes on Aug. 12, when the group positions in a quaint village in the Spanish countryside to witness and photograph the total solar eclipse.

Medinas and the moon's shadow

From the spice-laden souks of Marrakech to the tiled courtyards of Fes, this 14-day cultural odyssey through Morocco with TravelQuest will be a feast for the senses. It gets started quickly, with a few days in coastal Tangier — complete with a pre-eclipse briefing from an eclipse expert — followed by totality for just shy of five minutes from close to Tétouan. Next is a fabulous journey through Chefchaouen and on to Fes, Meknes, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech, with a community visit, camel rides, glamping and a visit to the Atlas Mountains.

Polaris, also known as the 'Pole Star' or 'North Star', is arguably the most famous stellar body to hang in the western hemisphere's night sky. For centuries it has served as a vital waypoint for explorers navigating both Earth's physical oceans and the celestial starfield above.

Its apparent importance is reflected in the fact that the entire night sky appears to revolve around it. This happens because Polaris' location happens to be closely aligned with Earth's north rotational axis, which is known as the celestial pole when projected outwards into space. However, Polaris isn't the first North Star to shine down on humanity, nor will it be the last.

Earth is engaged in a constant gravitational tug of war with the moon and sun, which over time has created a bulge at our planet's equator, according to NASA. As a result, Earth's axis of rotation has developed a distinct wobble - known to scientists as axial precession - which sees the celestial pole trace a wide, lazy circle over a roughly 26,000 year period, coming close to several other prominent stars besides Polaris.

Read on to discover more about the past, present and future North Stars, including how to find them for yourself in the night sky in the northern hemisphere. Amateur stargazers new to the night sky may want to make use of our guide to the best stargazing apps available in 2025, many of which have free functionality, and make use of augmented reality tech to help you find Polaris and navigate the stars.

1 - Polaris - The current North Star

Polaris is the logical starting point for any North Star tour, given that it is the reigning title holder and a key waypoint for many attempting to find their way around the night sky. The current North Star can be found easily by locating the Big Dipper asterism in Ursa Minor, which is high overhead this time of year.

Draw an imaginary line from the magnitude 2.3 star Merak, which forms the outer base of the 'bowl', through Dubhe, the star positioned as the 'pouring tip' of the asterism. Follow that line outward and the next similarly bright star you find on this path will be Polaris.

This bright point of light is in fact a triple star system, though only two of the stars are visible through a backyard telescope. The largest of the stellar trio is a supergiant star that burns over 2,000 times brighter than our sun, according to NASA. Polaris will continue to be the pole star for a few thousand years to come, until Earth's rotational axis wanders inexorably away on its 26,000-year wobble.

2 - Thuban

Jumping back in time, Thuban was positioned as a North Star some 4,700 years ago, as early civilizations thrived in Mesopotamia and Egypt, according to NASA. Thuban is located some 270 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco - hence its official name of Alpha Draconis - and is comprised of a pair of stars known as an 'eclipsing binary.'

In 2020, a team of scientists revealed that these two ancient stars regularly eclipse one another over the course of their 51-day orbital period from the perspective of Earth, leading to periodic dips in brightness based on data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

A good way to find Thuban is to locate the bright stars Phecda and Megrez that form part of the 'bowl' of the famous Big Dipper asterism in the constellation Ursa Major, which is located high overhead at this time of year. Draw a line from Phecda through Megrez out into space continuing for twice the distance separating the two guide stars and you will find the patch of sky containing Thuban.

3 - Kochab and Pherkad - the 'Guardians of the Pole'.

Both Kochab and Pherkad were close to the celestial pole around 3,00 years ago, granting them the moniker of 'Guardians of the Pole', according to stargazing website EarthSky.org. Kochab came particularly close to the celestial pole between 1700 BCE-300 CE, and may even have been referred to as "Polaris" by some in antiquity, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The stellar duo are particularly easy to find once you know the location of Polaris, as all three belong to the same constellation of Ursa Minor, or the 'Little Bear'. Ursa Minor boasts a pan-like outline featuring a 'bowl' and 'handle', with Polaris is located at the end of the handle, while Kochab and Pherkad form the outer edge of the 'bowl'.

Some archaeologists believe that the Ancient Egyptians may have orientated the Great Pyramids of Giza to face an alignment of the stars Kochab and Mizar - a star in the Big Dipper asterism - which were on opposite sides of the celestial pole around that era. However, there is contention as to which stars were used to orientate the pyramids - an important distinction as it has a direct bearing of our understanding of when exactly they were built, per the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.

4 - Errai.

The K-type star Errai - or Gamma Cephei to give it its official name - is the first future North Star on our list. In just 2,200 years Errai will be situated a mere 3 degrees from the north celestial pole in the night sky, according to The University of Virginia, putting an end to Polaris reign.

Gamma Cephei is actually two stars, a binary star system located some 45 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus. Its primary star plays host to a Jupiter-like gas giant, the discovery of which was first announced in 1988, before being swiftly withdrawn due to a lack of confidence in the data, according to NASA. Its existence was confirmed by a later study, and had it not been withdrawn, the planet - named Gamma Cephei A b would have been forever known as the first exoplanet ever discovered beyond our solar system.

Errai can be found using the same trick used to locate Polaris. Simply draw an imaginary line from Dubhe - the tip of the bowl in the Big Dipper asterism - through and past Polaris. The next bright star on that path will be Errai.

5 - Alderamin

In around 5,000 years, Alderamin - another star in the constellation Cepheus - will be crowned the North Star, per the Royal Museums Greenwich website. Many observers have likened the five stars of Cepheus to a child's drawing of a house. Following that visualization, Errai marks the top of the roof, while the magnitude 1.5 star Alderamin forms the lower right foundation. It can be found by locating the stars Shedar and Caph in the 'W' shaped constellation Cassiopeia. Draw a line from Shedar through Caph and beyond, and Alderamin will be directly on this path.

6 - Deneb

The magnitude 1.2 star Deneb passed close to the celestial north pole 18,000 years ago according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and will again around the year 9,800 CE, at which point it will be around seven degrees from the pole.

To spot it, simply look to the Eastern sky after sunset during spring, where you will see the trio of bright stars that form the Summer Triangle asterism. Deneb will form the lower left point of the triangle relative to the horizon.

7 - Vega

The celestial north pole pointed to the bright star Vega some 14,000 years ago, at a time when our hunter-gathering ancestors roamed the Earth. NASA has estimated that Vega will become the north star once again in around 12,000 years from now, as Earth's rotational axis continues its lazy wobble through the stars.

Vega is one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere, whose claim to scientific fame came in 1984, when scientists discovered the first evidence of what turned out to be an almost 100-billion-mile-diameter disk of dusty planet-forming matter in orbit around the star. Vega is the fifth brightest star visible in the northern hemisphere. Vega forms the top point of the famous Summer Triangle.

Night sky lovers hoping to get a closer look at the night sky should check our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals available in 2025. Our guides on the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help immortalize your stargazing sessions!

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

April 21 - 28 is International Dark Sky Week, a global celebration of the night sky during which like-minded organizations and people take action to raise awareness of an inevitable aspect of modern-day life: the rising scourge of light pollution.

Light pollution is a serious issue for night sky enthusiasts hoping to explore the cosmos from our vantage point on Earth, and is the primary reason why powerful observatories are built in remote locations, such as the Atacama Desert in Chile. Even so, a 2022 study from the Royal Astronomical Society showed that artificial light was polluting the skies over most observatories, while suggesting that immediate action would be needed to safeguard these scientific bastions.

But the loss of dark skies is felt far beyond its harmful effects on astronomy. "From the darkness needed for a restful night's sleep to the activities we enjoy beneath the stars, the night plays a crucial role in protecting healthy wildlife ecosystems, advancing science and exploration, preserving cultural knowledge, and much more," reads a post on the International Dark Sky website.

Astronomers measure the apparent brightness of a night sky object by its magnitude. The lower this value is, the brighter an associated object is in the night sky. Under good night sky viewing conditions the human eye is capable of picking out objects with a magnitude of around +6, which allows us to view over 9,000 stars without the need for telescopes or binoculars. However, under artificial city lights that limit drops to a magnitude of +3, which renders many deep sky objects and stars lost to sight.

To celebrate International Dark Sky Week 2025, we've put together a list of 10 night sky objects visible over the coming days that showcase the majesty of the post-sunset realm. The majority of viewing targets are easily accessible to newcomers using nothing but the naked eye and a dark sky, although some may benefit from the use of a stargazing smartphone app such as Stellarium, or Starry night.

However, some of the latter selections in our list would benefit from being viewed through a pair of binoculars, or a telescope, to bring out their true beauty. While the most impressive sights will be found under clear, unspoiled dark skies, many of the viewing targets can be observed in urban areas. Regardless of where you are, be sure to let your eyes adjust to the dark for at least 20 minutes to get the most out of your skywatching experience, and to use a red light when extra illumination is needed to save your night vision!

1 - The Big Dipper

The seven bright stars that form the Big Dipper - also known as the Plough - are among the most famous stellar formations in the Northern Hemisphere. In reality, the stars of the Big Dipper are separated from one another by near unimaginable tracts of space, but from the seemingly unchanging perspective of Earth they come together to create a distinctive bowl and handle shape.

The Big Dipper is what is known as an asterism - the term given to a recognizable formation of stars that belongs to an even larger grouping of stellar bodies called a constellation. The Big Dipper's constellation Ursa major - the Great Bear - happens to be a circumpolar constellation, which means that it’s always above the horizon in the northern hemisphere, particularly during spring, when it is particularly high overhead. If you're having difficulty spotting this bright asterism then why not turn to a stargazing app, many of which have free functionality and the best of which can be found in our handy guide!

2 - The North Star, Polaris

The next object on our tour is the magnitude +2 star Polaris, which can be located with the help of the bright stars Merak and Dubhe, which form the outer edge of the Big Dipper's 'bowl'. Simply trace an imaginary line from the base of the bowl (Merak) out through Dubhe, and the next bright star that the line intersects will be Polaris!

Polaris is also known as the North Star, owing to the fact that it just so happens to be positioned extremely close to the north celestial pole, which is essentially an extension of Earth's geographic north pole, and around which the entire sky seems to rotate. As such, Polaris held a special significance to our ancestors, who used it to determine their latitude on Earth during long sea voyages.

However, the celestial north pole is slowly wandering away from Polaris as a result of a wobble in the rotation of Earth's axis. According to NASA a new North Star will be crowned in around 12,000 years in the bright star Vega.

3 - Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse - or Alpha Orionis if you want to be fancy - is one of the largest stars visible in the Northern Hemisphere. According to NASA, the red supergiant is estimated to shine brighter than up to 14,000 suns. Despite being a mere 10 million years old, Betelgeuse is already nearing the end of its mighty existence, having already expended most of its hydrogen reserves needed to fuel the fusion reaction that prevents the gigantic stellar body from collapsing in on itself.

At any point in the next 100,0000 years Betelgeuse could run out of the last of its hydrogen, and end in a cataclysmic supernova explosion that would be visible on Earth, even during the day.

To find Betelgeuse in the April night sky, you need only look to the western sky soon after sunset, and locate the three bright stars Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka that line up horizontally to form an asterism known as Orion's belt. Then, trace a line up from Mintaka and slightly to the right, to find Betelgeuse.

4 - Mars, Castor and Pollux.

Space agencies and private companies alike have their sights set on exploring the secrets of the Red Planet, with a view to one day putting human boots on its barren surface. During April, Mars is located relatively close to the bright stars Castor and Pollox, which can be found 40 degrees upwards from Betelgeuse in the direction of your local zenith, which is the patch of space directly above your head.

The width of your fist from your thumb to the outside of your hand equals around 10 degrees in the sky. With that in mind, all you need to do is stack four fists on top of Betelgeuse, and you will find Castor and Pollux waiting for you side by side. Mars can then be seen as a bright red point of light to the upper left of the two stars.

5 - Beehive Cluster

Less than 10 degrees to the upper left of Mars this week is the Beehive cluster, which appears as a fuzzy patch of light to the naked eye under clear dark skies, and something all the more spectacular with the aid of a pair of binoculars, or telescope. According to NASA, the Beehive cluster is home to around 1,000 stars that are loosely bound together by gravitational attraction.

The enormous stellar beehive is thought to be 600 - 700 million years old, and was initially mistaken as a nebula by the famed astronomer Galileo Galilei when he observed it in the early 1600s. A pair of good binoculars will reveal tens of stars clustered together in the Beehive, while a telescope could reveal hundreds more of the blue-white stellar bodies.

6 - A planetary quartet to the east

The eastern pre-dawn horizon in late April is a veritable planet bonanza, with Venus, Saturn, Mercury and Neptune all crowding in together into a relatively small patch of sky. The planets are best viewed in the hour preceding dawn, and will require a clear view of the horizon.

Venus, the brightest of the planetary quartet, will be visible roughly 10 degrees above the horizon, while Saturn will be visible to the lower right a short distance away. Mercury, the last of the easily visible planets, may also be visible almost directly on the horizon. Neptune will be visible through binoculars or a telescope below Venus and to the left of Saturn, forming a planetary triangle. As always, readers are reminded to exercise extreme caution when using a telescope or binoculars in close proximity to the rising sun.

7 - The Sombrero Galaxy

Named for its aesthetic similarity to the iconic piece of headwear, the Sombrero galaxy (M 104) is one of the most iconic and easily recognizable cosmic objects discovered by astronomers to date. The galaxy is tilted almost edge-on to Earth, and features a bright active core and thick, shadowy dust lanes that span some 50,000 light years across.

With a magnitude of +8 the vast galaxy sits just outside of the perception range of the human eye. However, it can be spotted under dark skies using a pair of binoculars, which will reveal the vast structure of gas and stars as a small smudge of light. Through a larger telescope it is possible to gain greater levels of detail. Be sure to check out Space.com's guides for the best binocular and telescope deals to help you find the optics you need to see the Sombrero Galaxy and other deep sky wonders.

A good way to locate the Sombrero Galaxy is to pick out the magnitude 2.8 star Kraz near the southern horizon after dark, and then look upwards until you find the similarly bright star Porrima to the right of Spica. M 104 can be found roughly half way between the two.

8 - The M3 globular cluster

Located 34,000 light-years from Earth, the globular cluster Messier 3 (M3) is known to contain over 500,000 stars. Despite its stelliferous nature, the deep sky object was initially mistaken for a nebula by its discoverer Charles Messier back in 1764, though this wrong would later be put right by William Herschel some 20 years later, when he resolved individual stars within the cluster.

As explained by NASA, the best way to find Messier 3 is to return to the Big Dipper asterism, and draw an imaginary line connecting the star at the very end of the handle, Alkaid, and Arcturus. Then, using a starfinding app, find the magnitude 2.84 star Cor Caroli. The globular cluster we seek is located a third of the way towards Cor Caroli.

9 - Bode's Galaxy + M82

Bode's galaxy is located some 11.6 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major, and is one of the brightest galaxies to be found in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of +6.9. The cosmic structure was discovered in 1774 by German astronomer Johann Elert Bode, and later imaged by the Hubble telescope to magnificent effect.

One way to find Bode's galaxy is to locate Dubhe in the bowl of the Big Dipper, along with the magnitude +3.5 star Muscida. Find the halfway point between the two, and head in the direction of Polaris. This imaginary line will bring you close to our target, along with the dimmer galaxies M82, and NGC 3077.

As noted by NASA, it is possible to spot Bode's galaxy as a smudge of light in the spring sky with a pair of binoculars. However, a small telescope will be needed to resolve the galaxy's bright core, which is suspected to play host to a monstrous singularity 15 times the mass of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole.

10 - The Andromeda Galaxy

Our final entry is the Andromeda galaxy, a vast spiral galaxy located some 2.5 million light years from Earth, which is destined to collide and merge with the Milky Way some 4.5 billion years from now to form an even larger elliptical galaxy.

During spring, the Andromeda galaxy is best viewed in the hours before dawn by looking to the north eastern horizon and finding the prominent star Mirach close to the horizon. The Andromeda galaxy will be located a little under 10 degrees above Mirach, visible as a fuzzy patch of light to the naked eye.

On the night of March 13-14, a "blood moon" total lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Western Europe, far Western Africa, and New Zealand.

To prepare for this stunning event, here are seven interesting facts about lunar eclipses.

For the latest lunar eclipse updates, check out our lunar eclipse live blog.

1. Total lunar eclipses have much wider paths of totality than total solar eclipses.

This century, there will be 85 total lunar eclipses. A given geographic location on Earth's surface will experience an average 40 to 45 total lunar eclipses, or about one every 2.3 years. In contrast, a specific location will witness a total solar eclipse once every 375 years, on average.

The reason for the large disparity is simple: To see a total solar eclipse, you must be fortuitously positioned along the path of the moon's dark shadow (the umbra), which might extend for many thousands of miles but cannot be any wider than 167 miles (269 kilometers) in diameter. In contrast, the region of visibility for a total lunar eclipse extends to more than half of Earth, allowing billions to partake in the lunar show.

2. More than a billion people will be in the viewing zone for the March 13-14 total lunar eclipse.

To determine the visibility of the total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, we took into account the populations of North and South America, 17 nations in western portions of Europe and Africa, New Zealand and eastern Siberia. From this, we have determined that potentially as many as 1.36 billion people will be able to see the moon become completely immersed in Earth's dark umbral shadow. We say "potentially" because the weather for some parts of the globe will be cloudy or unsettled, hence precluding a view of this shady celestial drama.

3. The temperature on the moon plummets during a total lunar eclipse.

When Earth's shadow sweeps across the lunar landscape, the temperature plummets. In fact, the resulting "thermal shock" may cause lunar rocks to crumble and gas to escape from within the moon. Normally, as the sun slowly sets from the moon's perspective, the drop in temperature is gradual. But if sunlight is shut off when the sun is high in the lunar sky, the drop is much more rapid — over a span of just 10 to 30 minutes.

During a total lunar eclipse in February 1971, temperatures were monitored at two Apollo landing sites. At the Apollo 12 site on the Ocean of Storms, the temperature dropped from 168.3 to minus 153 degrees Fahrenheit (75.7 to minus 102.8 degrees Celsius) — a change of 321.3 F (178.5 C). At the Apollo 14 Fra Mauro site, the temperature dropped from 154.1 to minus 153 F (67.8 to minus 102 C) — a change of 307.1 F (169.8 C).

4. The totality phase of a total lunar eclipse can't last longer than 107 minutes.

The longest duration of totality for a lunar eclipse is 107 minutes. This can happen when the moon crosses through the middle of Earth's shadow, when the moon is at or very near apogee, the farthest point in its orbit from Earth. When the moon is near apogee, it is moving more slowly and needs more time to cross our planet's shadow.

The total lunar eclipse of July 16, 2000 — which was visible in the Pacific Ocean, eastern Asia and Australia — was one of the longest on record, lasting 106 minutes, 25 seconds. On Aug. 13, 1859, totality lasted three seconds longer. It will take thousands of years — until Aug. 19, 4753 — for there to be a longer total eclipse, which will last 106 minutes, 35 seconds, according to astronomer Jean Meeus.

As far as the shortest totality for a lunar eclipse, theoretically, it could last just an instant. In recent years, the shortest total lunar eclipse occurred on April 4, 2015, when the duration of totality was less than five minutes.

5. The term "blood moon" comes from a prophecy.

In recent years, the term "blood moon" has been used to describe a total lunar eclipse. The phrase comes from a book written by a pastor, who claimed that beginning in April 2014, a series of four consecutive lunar eclipses — all coinciding with Jewish holidays, with six full moons in between and no intervening partial lunar eclipses — was an omen of the end times. The eclipse series is called a lunar tetrad and is very variable with time.

For instance, Meeus points out that no tetrads occurred when Louis XIV was king of France, yet from 1909 to 2156, no fewer than 16 tetrads will have taken place. And during a 2,000-year interval, 25 of these began between March 16 and May 15, meaning there have been other periods in history when tetrads coincided with Jewish holidays, yet the world didn't end.

So the "blood moon prophecy" is nothing more than a fallacy and should be filed away with the nonsensical prediction that "Rapture" and judgment day were to take place on May 21, 2011.

6. A lunar eclipse saved Columbus.

On his fourth and final voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus and his men were, for a time, marooned and hungry on the north coast of Jamaica. The Indigenous Arawak people were becoming tired of their demands.

But "The Almanach Perpetuum,"written by Abraham Ben Samuel Zacuto, came to Columbus' aid, predicting a lunar eclipse for Thursday, Feb. 29, 1504. Knowing this, three days earlier, Columbus warned the Indigenous people that he would take the moon away if they did not cooperate with his expedition.

He wrote:

“It began before sunset, so I could observe only the end of it, when the moon had just begun to return, and it must have been two and a half hours after sunset.”

When the Indigenous people implored him to bring back the moon, Columbus drew aside and pretended to pray. As the moon began to emerge from the Earth's shadow, they cheered and hurried away to bring food for the ill and starving men. Zacuto's work thus saved the admiral's life and that of his crew.

7. The next lunar eclipse will be the "opposite."

After this month's eclipse, the next total lunar eclipse will take place on Sept. 7. Think of it as the flip side of the lunar eclipse of March 2024. On this occasion, all the places in the Eastern Hemisphere that didn't get a view of the previous eclipse — central Africa and eastern Europe to eastern Asia, Japan, Indonesia and Australia — will be in perfect position for this event. Meanwhile, the Americas will see none of it because the moon will be below the horizon and it will be daytime during this eclipse.

On March 3, 2026, North Americans will get another opportunity to view a total eclipse. However, for observers in the Eastern time zone, the moon will set during the dawn's early light during the total phase. Places in the middle of the country will be able to catch the moon emerging from Earth's shadow as it sets, while for the Western part of the country, the eclipse will be visible from start to finish. Hawaiians will see the moon almost overhead as totality takes place in the hours after midnight.

On Aug. 27-28, 2026, an "almost" total lunar eclipse will occur. This eclipse favors much of North America, though far Western areas (including Hawaii) will see the moon rise already within Earth's dark umbral shadow. At mid-eclipse, 93% of the moon will be immersed in the umbra, leaving only the uppermost part of its disk in view.

The next time North America will see a total lunar eclipse with viewing circumstances comparable to this month's eclipse, it will be an event that will cross over from one year to the next — from Dec. 31, 2047, to Jan. 1, 2048. That entire event will be visible from coast to coast, with totality lasting 57 minutes.

Honorable mention

And finally, in January 1972, several dozen people were injured in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh when hundreds of troops across the city let off a fusillade of bullets at a total eclipse of the moon. The soldiers, both in the streets and at guard posts, fired their weapons, trying to prevent the moon from being eaten by a mythical monster frog called Reahou. According to an ancient Cambodian legend, the giant frog wants to eat the moon and must be stopped. I guess we can call this a ribbeting occurrence!

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmers' Almanac and other publications.

For centuries, humanity has dreamed of exploring distant planets. With the upcoming Artemis 2 mission taking astronauts around the moon, NASA is taking its first steps toward future crewed missions to Mars in the 2030s and 2040s.

But you don't need to leave Earth to experience landscapes that feel out of this world. From volcanic terrains to vast deserts, our planet is filled with extraordinary destinations that make you feel like you've stepped onto another planet. No spacecraft required — just a passport and a plane ticket. Explore some of the most stunning, alien-like places Earth has to offer.

Related: 10 Earth impact craters you must see

Mono Lake, California, U.S.

Mono Lake, located in California near Yosemite National Park, is one of North America's oldest lakes, over a million years old. Its unique environment is defined by extreme salinity — 2.5 times that of ocean water — and high alkalinity conditions caused by the evaporation of freshwater that has left behind salts and minerals washed in from Eastern Sierra streams.

The lake is particularly famous for its dramatic tufa towers — calcium-carbonate spires formed by the interaction of freshwater springs and the alkaline lake water that looks like something straight out of Sci-Fi.

The lake's ecosystem supports a vast array of wildlife, serving as a crucial resting spot for 1 to 2 million migratory birds annually. Mono Lake’s otherworldly landscape, with towering tufa formations and sparkling winter snow, makes it a popular destination for photographers and nature enthusiasts.

Vatnajokull glacier, Iceland

Vatnajokull glacier is the second-largest glacier in Europe. It covers 3,130 square miles (8,100 square kilometers) — 8% of Iceland's landmass — according to the travel website Guide to Iceland.

The monumental glacier is over 3,000 feet (900 m) deep in some places and conceals several active volcanoes below its surface, the most famous being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga. Geologists believe volcanic eruptions from this region are overdue and that we could therefore see significant activity within the next 50 years.

Vatnajökull is also home to enchanting ice caves like the one pictured above, with glacier and ice cave tours available during the winter months.

The glacier is shrinking year by year due to warming global temperatures; its thickness has decreased on average by about 3 feet (0.9 m) per year for the past 15 years.

Lake Hillier, Australia

Lake Hillier, located on Middle Island, Western Australia, definitely looks like it belongs on another planet. The stark contrast between the pink lake, dark blue waters of the Indian Ocean and the luscious green forest are remarkable.

According to the travel website Hiller Lake, scientists are not 100% sure how the lake gets its rosy pink hue. The most likely suspect is the Dunaliella salina microalgae found in the lake, which produce carotenoids — a red pigment. But halophilic "salt-loving" bacteria in the salt crusts may also play a role. It has also been suggested that a reaction between the salt and sodium bicarbonate could be altering the color of the lake.

The mysterious salmon-pink lake is approximately 2000 feet (600 m) long and 820 ft (250 m) wide and is best viewed from the air.

Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland, U.K.

The Giant's Causeway, a geological wonder in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is nearly 60 million years in the making. The alien landscape was formed by volcanic eruptions when molten lava cooled and cracked into the iconic hexagonal basalt columns, according to the National Trust. Over time, erosion and further lava flows shaped the stunning landscape seen today.

Beyond its natural history, the Causeway is steeped in legend. The most famous tale involves the Irish giant Finn McCool, who is said to have built the causeway to cross the Irish Sea and confront his Scottish rival, Benandonner. Another lesser-known version tells of Finn constructing the Causeway for love, only to face storms that destroyed his efforts, leaving the structure in ruins.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, the Giant’s Causeway is recognized for its exceptional natural beauty and geological significance.

Waitomo glowworm caves, New Zealand

If you fancy swapping a night under the stars for a different kind of light show, New Zealand's famous glowworm caves may be just the ticket.

According to NewZealand.com, the Waitomo Caves offer some of the best glowworm sights in the country. Take a trip through the Waitomo Caves either by boat, kayak or on foot and gaze up at the thousands of glowworms that call these caves home. The unique environment looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, with strange creatures illuminating the way like a star-studded sky.

Glowworms produce light via a chemical reaction, in a process known as bioluminescence, according to the Natural History Museum in London.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum is a desert covering 277 square miles (717 square kilometers) located in South Jordan, according to the travel website WadiRum.jo. While exploring the dramatic wilderness, you'd be forgiven for thinking you've just set foot on Mars. With wide sandy valleys over a mile (1700 meters) high, smooth red dunes and mesmerizing rock formations, Wadi Rum is a wondrous place.

British liaison officer Thomas Edward Lawrence served with rebel forces during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks in the early 20th century. He described Wadi Rum as "vast, echoing, and God-like", according to the travel website Wadi Rum Nomads.

Lawrence wrote a book about the period called the "Seven Pillars of Wisdom," which was later made into the famous 1962 movie "Lawrence of Arabia." Several scenes from the movie were filmed in Wadi Rum, according to IMDB.

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, U.S.

The Grand Prismatic Spring is the most photographed thermal feature in Yellowstone National Park, according to adventure publisher Outside.

According to the U.S. National Park Service, the ring of vivid colors measures 200 to 300 feet (60 to 90 meters) in diameter and 121 feet (36 m) deep — it's no wonder this striking spring is so popular with photographers and tourists alike.

The superheated spring is also a sought-after location for microscopic organisms known as thermophiles, which thrive in hot environments. ("Thermo" means heat, and "phile" means lover.) The hardiest of the thermophiles that live in the hottest water are colorless or yellow, whereas the orange, brown and green thermophiles live in the not-so-hot waters around the edge of the spring.

Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Hawaii

Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) located on the Big Island of Hawaii is just one of many lava tubes on the island.

Lava tubes form when rivers of molten lava flow through natural channels, cooling at the edges and eventually creating a crust that insulates the lava underneath. As the flow continues, thermal erosion deepens the tunnel until the eruption stops, leaving behind an empty conduit. Over time, these caves become home to unique ecosystems, including cave-adapted species like crickets and spiders and microbial colonies found nowhere else in the world.

Lava tubes also hold cultural significance for Native Hawaiians, offering shelter from the elements and enemies. They were used to store food, gather drinking water, and serve as sacred sites for burials and ceremonies. The national park protects these sacred caves, restricting public access to preserve their cultural and environmental importance.

Lava tubes could play a crucial role in the future of human settlements on the moon and Mars. Due to their natural shielding properties, these underground structures protect from extreme temperatures, cosmic radiation, and micrometeorite impacts — issues that pose significant challenges for surface habitats.

Read more: Living underground on the Moon: How lava tubes could aid lunar colonization

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the largest salt flat in the world, spanning over 3,800 square miles (10,000 square km), according to the European Space Agency. The colossal salt flat is so large it can be seen from space.

The salt flat can reach depths of 32 feet (10 m) in its center. According to the travel website Salardeuyuni.com, Salar de Uyuni contains over 10 billion tons of salt. Interestingly, 70% of the world's lithium reserves are also found beneath the monumental salt flat.

These alluring salt flats in Bolivia's surreal Altiplano are a must-visit for those eager to experience something extraordinary.

Sossusvlei, Namib Desert

The towering red dunes in Sossusvlei are some of the tallest in the world, reaching nearly 1,300 feet (400 m), according to the travel website Sossusvlei. It's no surprise that they're one of the most visited attractions in Namibia.

The Martian-like environment is situated in the largest conservation area in Africa, the Namib-Naukluft National Park. The word Sossusvlei translates to "dead- end" and refers to the dunes preventing the Tsauchab River from flowing any further.

It has taken millions of years for the wind to sculpt these famous red dunes. The dune-forming dust comes from the Orange River — the longest river in South Africa. The dust flows into the Atlantic Ocean, where the Benguela current carries it northward. It then washes ashore, is carried by the wind and deposited inland.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

Lençois Maranhenses National Park contains vast swathes of white dunes sweeping across the otherworldly landscape. According to the travel website Lonely Planet, from May to September rainwater fills the crystal-clear pools, which are offset by striking white dunes.

The enchanting dunescape stretches over 43 miles (70 km) along the coast and over 30 miles (50 km) inland. Lençois translates as "bedsheets" in Portuguese and refers to the rolling white dunes that dominate the landscape.

The national park is best visited in June, July and August, when the lagoons are at their best, according to Lonely Planet.

Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

The Danakil Depression, Ethiopia, is one of the most inhospitable and alien places on Earth. Known as the "gateway to hell" according to the BBC, the Danakil Depression is probably the closest you'll ever be able to come to standing on the surface of Venus (without the crushing atmosphere, of course). Choking sulphuric acid and chlorine gases fill the air, while acid ponds and geysers pepper the landscape.

According to the BBC, temperatures in this region regularly reach 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius), making it one of the hottest places on Earth.

Related: What is the average temperature on Earth?

The Danakil Depression lies over 330 feet (100 m) below sea level in a rift valley. Rift valleys are formed when tectonic plates move apart at a "divergent plate boundary," according to The Geological Society. The underlying volcanic activity sculpts the landscape as Earth is pulled apart at the seams. Some of the Danakil Depression features can even be seen from space, according to NASA Earth Observatory.

Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

On the south coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, lava from the Kilauea volcano spews into the Pacific Ocean, creating striking scenes along the rugged coastline.

Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, according to the travel website Go Hawaii. It is located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, about 45 miles (72 km) southwest of the vibrant town of Hilo.

According to the volcano tourism website Volcano Discovery, Kilauea has been continually erupting since 1983. During that time, lava flows from the volcano have covered more than 38 square miles (100 square km) and destroyed almost 200 homes.

For the latest eruption updates, see the travel website Hawaii Guide and keep informed about the most recent lava news.

Pamukkale, Turkey

Pamukkale, known as the "Cotton Castle" of Turkey, is a serene landscape dotted with mineral pools surrounded by white "cotton-like" shelves and ridges.

The unique landscape was created when a spring with a high concentration of calcium bicarbonate spilled over the edge of a cliff and cascaded down the side. The water leaves behind the white calcium deposits we see today, according to the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Tourists from far and wide flock to Pamukkale to relax in the calm waters and the myriad spas that have sprung up across the region.

Rainbow Mountain, Peru

Rainbow Mountain is located in the Andes Mountains of Peru, about 17,000 feet (5,200 m) above sea level, according to the Rainbow Mountain tourism website. The streaked mountain is famed for its technicolor appearance, which is created by different mineral sediments.

Until recently, this rainbow jewel of the Andes was undiscovered, hidden beneath a blanket of snow. As the snow melted, the hidden gem was revealed, and the area now attracts hundreds of visitors every day.

Rainbow Mountain is also known as Vinicunca, according to the official tourism website Rainbow Mountain Peru. The word Vinicunca originates from Quechua — an indigenous language of Peru — and translates to "colored mountain".

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, located in China's Wulingyuan Scenic Area, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and striking geological formations. Spanning 18.59 square miles (48.15 sq km), the park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which covers 153.5 square miles (397.5 sq km). Famous for its pillar-like rock formations, the park’s quartz-sandstone pillars were shaped by physical erosion and abundant rainfall.

The dramatic, otherworldly scene bears a striking resemblance to the floating mountains of Pandora in the movie Avatar. Hallelujah Mountain, originally known as Qiankun Pillar, is a towering peak in Zhangjiajie’s Avatar Mountains. Its unique vertical shape and height of over 3,300 ft (1,000) inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountain in Avatar.

Kawah Ijen volcano, East Java, Indonesia

The electric-blue rivers ejected from Kawah Ijen volcano in eastern Java look like something from another world.

Contrary to what is commonly reported, the lava itself is not blue. The striking color is a result of volcanic sulfur emissions. According to Geology.com, the volcano emits sulfurous gases that ignite when they meet Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere and burn with a rich blue flame. When the sulfurous gas condenses, it produces the infamous blue rivers that illuminate the volcanic landscape at night.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, the eerie blue glow is only visible at night because it's the flames that are blue rather than the lava itself. It looks like any other volcano during the daytime.

Atacama Desert, Chile

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the driest and most desolate places on Earth.

Spanning over 40,000 square miles (103,000 square km), it is a harsh yet breathtaking landscape of sand, rock, and salt flats. Located at an altitude of 7,900 feet (2,408 m), this high desert receives less than 15 millimeters of rain per year, making it one of the driest places on the planet. Despite its extreme conditions, the Atacama is home to stunning geological formations like the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), with its cracked earth and towering salt pillars, and the Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley), whose chasms and ravines present an inhospitable terrain.

The desert's hostile environment is contrasted by its role as a stargazing haven. With its high altitude and clear skies, the Atacama boasts some of the world's best astronomical observatories, including the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). The desert also provides an unparalleled simulation of Martian conditions, with its harsh, arid landscape and intense ultraviolet radiation. Scientists frequently use the Atacama as a testing ground for Mars-bound rovers, taking advantage of its extreme environment to replicate the challenges of the Red Planet.

Han Son Doong, Vietnam

Deep in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam is Han Son Doong — the largest cave in the world. According to the Son Doong Cave tourism website, the average passage size for Han Son Doong is 220 feet (67 m). The cave is, on average, 656 feet (200 m) high and nearly 500 feet (150 m) wide.

In 2019, Han Son Doong's known size increased greatly when an underwater tunnel connecting the cave to another cave was discovered, according to an article published in Lonely Planet.

The otherworldy cave is large enough to house a block of New York City containing 40-story skyscrapers and is home to the world's largest stalagmites, which measure up to 260 ft (80 m), according to the Doong Cave tourism website.

Fly Geyser, Nevada, U.S.

What do you get if you cross human error and geothermal pressure? A 12-ft-tall (3.5 meters) alien-looking structure.

Fly Geyser is a technicolor geyser situated on Fly Ranch in the middle of the Nevada desert. The structure spews out hot water, creating shallow pools home to hardy thermophilic algae that flourish in moist, hot environments, according to the tourism website Reno Tahoe.

The geyser was created by accident in 1964 when a geothermal energy company drilled the site in a bid to tap into the hot water below. But the water wasn't hot enough to be useful to the energy company, so the site was sealed up. According to Reno Tahoe, the well was improperly plugged and the scalding hot water pierced through the surface, creating the bizarre three-mound geyser we see today.

Additional resources

Explore Han Son Doong with this virtual tour from National Geographic. Learn more about the Danakil Depression and see what trips are available with the tourism website Brilliant Ethiopia. Discover why sulfuric gases can produce the infamous blue flames at Kawah Ijen volcano with this article from Interesting Engineering.

Bibliography

National Park Service. Grand Prismatic Spring

Wadi Rum Protected Area

Guide to Iceland, Vatnajökull Travel Guide

New Zealand tourist website, glowworm caves

ESA, Uyuni salt flat, Bolivia

Sossusvlei, Welcome to the land that time forgot

Hiller Lake, the pink lake of Australia

Lonely Planet Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses

The Geological Society, Plate Tectonic Stories, East African Rift Valley, East Africa

NASA Earth Observatory, Curiosities of the Danakil Depression

The Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Pamukkale

Rainbow Mountain Peru, official information website.

Geology.com, Kawah Ijen Volcano. Blue flames and the largest highly acidic lake in the world.

National Park Service, Lava Tubes.

California State Parks, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

National Geographic, Exploring Chile's Atacama Desert

China Discovery, Avatar Mountains in Zhangjiajie: Location, Itinerary & Visiting Tips

Global Alliance of National Parks, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

National Trust, History of Giant's Causeway

The internet is absolutely full of myths and urban legends about space and just about everything else, so readers must be a skeptical these days.

From claims of aliens crashing on Earth and UFOs being hidden on military bases, to Mars being abnormally large and the moon turning green, space tends to attract some outlandish or at least highly unproven claims that should be vetted carefully.

Here are some of the biggest space myths and conspiracy theories that just won't go away.

1. The Apollo moon landings were fake

Twelve NASA astronauts walked on the moon between 1969 and 1972, but in the decades since Apollo 11 astronauts first set foot on the moon, many theories have been put forward claiming that the whole Apollo program was staged. However, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has since released photos of the landing sites as they appear on the lunar surface many years later.

Some of the questions moon landing deniers ask are "Why are there no stars in the sky in the moonwalkers' photos? Why are the U.S. flags fluttering on the surface? Why do you see footprints in the pictures, but no marks from the lunar modules that landed there?"

It turns out those questions are easy to answer than you may think.

There are no stars in the sky for the same reason you don't see stars during the day on Earth, according to NASA: The bright glow of daylight on the surface washes them out.

U.S. flags planted into the lunar soil had metal rods sewn in them to appear as though they were moving, according to NASA. Without these wires, the flag would have hung straight down, making for a pretty lackluster photo prop.

And the lunar modules, though heavier, didn't put prominent marks in the surface in some places because their mass was more evenly distributed than the astronauts' weight was in their boots.

2. NASA is a lie

Some people actually believe NASA's whole function is not to explore space, but to generate space-related hoaxes. (The Apollo moon landing is a famous example that we'll explore in the next slide.) People who believe this conspiracy, sometimes flagged with the hashtag "#NASAhoax" on social media, will say that amazing space pictures of Mars, Pluto and even Earth are fake, computer-generated imagery (CGI).

NASA was formed in 1958 "to provide for research into problems of flight within and outside the Earth's atmosphere, and for other purposes," according to the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law shortly after the start of the space race against the Soviet Union.

Since then, NASA has launched hundreds of satellites into orbit around Earth, the moon and several other worlds. In fact, NASA spacecraft have orbited, flown by or landed on every planet in the solar system. NASA also sends astronauts into orbit, where they conduct research at the International Space Station (ISS).

If you're not convinced, you are free to travel to Florida's Space Coast to watch a rocket launch for yourself. It's also quite easy to see the space station and other satellites with your own eyes with the help of a satellite tracker.

3. The Earth is flat

This myth is so popular that there is even a group named after it: the Flat Earth Society. Members of the organization argue that the horizon is always at eye level, which they say would not be possible if the Earth were round. They also say there is no full movie of the Earth rotating from space — which is not true, as NASA has published multiple videos taken from satellites, including a live video of Earth from the ISS, which orbits our planet 16 times per day.

One way of demonstrating to yourself that the Earth is round is to consider how orbits of satellites work. Satellites constantly "fall" around the Earth as they are pulled around by our planet's gravity; they just need to be traveling fast enough at a high enough altitude to not slam into the atmosphere. Or, you can look at the amazing pictures taken by astronauts at the ISS.

4. Planet Nine will kill us

In April 2016, the New York Post tweeted, "A newly discovered planet could destroy Earth as soon as this month." The newspaper was referring to Planet Nine, a theoretical planet at the edge of the solar system. An accompanying video also claimed that the new planet would be throwing all sorts of asteroids and comets at Earth, which would supposedly end up pummeling our planet.

Although the existence of a ninth planet has not been confirmed, astronomers are actively looking for one to help explain motions of some objects in the icy Kuiper Belt, a vast region of icy objects beyond Neptune. If the planet is actually found, the planet will pose no threat to us, according to the California Institute of Technology's Mike Brown (who is one of the original backers of the Planet Nine theory).

5. Alien research is happening at Area 51

The 1996 movie "Independence Day" is one of the main sources of the Area 51 hoax, which claims that aliens and their technology — recovered from crashed flying saucers — are being studied secretly at a classified military base about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northwest of Las Vegas in the Nevada desert. Some people in the area around the base claim that they have seen strange lights or objects flying in or out of this area.

While the testing and development conducted at Area 51 is classified, the U.S. government has acknowledged its existence (although the CIA officially calls it "Homey Airport" or "Groom Lake").

A part of Edwards Air Force Base, the area was a known location for high-technology airplane flights in the 1960s and 1970s. It first served as a proving ground for Lockheed U-2 and A-12 OXCART spy planes as early as 1955. UFO sightings reported in the area were indeed unidentified objects, but only because the planes were top-secret — not because they were flown by aliens.

6. There is a killer planet known as "Nibiru"

Conspiracy theorists say another dangerous planet is Nibiru, which was first mentioned in the 1976 book "The Twelfth Planet," by Zecharia Sitchin. In the book, Sitchin translated ancient Sumerian cuneiform and claimed that the text is proof of a planet beyond Neptune called Nibiru that orbits the sun every 3,600 years.

Years later, self-proclaimed psychic Nancy Lieder claimed to have communicated with extraterrestrials who said Nibiru would collide with Earth in 2003. When that didn't happen, the date was moved to 2012 (and linked, of course, with the 2012 doomsday predictions). Of course, the collision never occurred, the world didn't end in 2012 and no astronomer has ever found a planet on a collision course with Earth.

7. There is a face on Mars

In 1976, NASA's Viking 1 spacecraft took a picture of what appeared to be a face on Mars. Immediately, some people said there must have been aliens on the Red Planet that left that face behind as evidence of their existence. NASA, however, pointed out that the suspected face is really just a pile of rocks casting shadows that resemble face-like features.

NASA followed up with better-resolution pictures taken from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Global Surveyor in 1998 and 2001, respectively. These new images made it quite clear that the "face on Mars" is nothing more than a trick of light and shadows on a completely normal Martian mound.

8. The moon Iapetus is an alien Death Star

Iapetus is a moon of Saturn that looks somewhat like the infamous Death Star in the "Star Wars" franchise, with a large crater that resembles the fictional weapon's superlaser focus lens. The Death Star is a planet-killing machine that destroys entire worlds with its outrageously powerful laser. It was prominently featured in the 2016 movie "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," as well as in 1977's "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope."

A Daily Mail article published in May 2016 claimed Iapetus is an artificial object crafted by aliens. As "evidence," the article cited a photo taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft in 2004. In the photo, there's a line around the moon's equator that resembles the equatorial trench around the Death Star.

But this line isn't nearly as interesting as the Death Star's trench, which houses the battle station's engines, thrusters and docking bays. That line is nothing more than a mountain ridge, and Iapetus is actually just made up of boring old rock and ice. Cassini has flown by the moon to take pictures several times without being blasted by deadly alien lasers.

Saturn's moon Mimas, with it's giant crater Herschel, also looks surprisingly like the Death Star.

9. Saturn's hexagon is alien technology

Saturn's hexagon was first spotted when NASA's Voyager spacecraft flew by the giant, ringed planet in 1980. The bizarre, six-sided structure on the round planet's north pole caused quite the stir, because straight lines and polygons are not so common in nature.

Immediately after the Voyager returned its first images of Saturn's strange feature, even stranger theories arose to explain it, including that it was somehow related to alien technology, or perhaps even was a gateway to hell. The hexagon is not artificial, but rather a weird-looking hurricane at Saturn's pole.

NASA has done several flybys of this region with the Cassini spacecraft, studying the haze particles and other features of the storm, to try to learn more about its unusual properties.

10. Mars is as big as the moon

Originating in 2003, the infamous Mars hoax asserts that Mars was closer to Earth than it had been in the 60,000 years prior, and that the planet will appear as large as the full moon. What started out as a misconstrued email turned into a recurring rumor that gets reshared every August and, naturally, has spread to social media as it became more popular.

Although Mars is indeed relatively close to Earth in a cosmic sense, it will never be as large as the full moon. It will appear as a red dot in the sky, just as the ancient astronomers saw it. If you'd like to see Mars magnified, take out a telescope or look at one of NASA's spectacular Mars pictures.

11. The moon will turn green

In spring 2016, there was a rumor that the moon would turn green because several planets had aligned and caused an eerie glow, according to EarthSky. This was supposed to happen on April 20 and again on May 29 for the first time since 1596, the rumor alleged.

The moon never actually turned green, although it can appear red during a lunar eclipse, when the moon passes through Earth's shadow. In the same way sunsets often appear red, sunlight is scattered as it passes through Earth's atmosphere, casting a reddish shadow on the moon's surface.

Skywatching columnist Joe Rao debunked this green-moon myth. He pointed out that a full moon actually took place on April 22, 2016, and speculated that the April 20 date of the "green moon" might have to do with "National Weed Day," popularly known as 4/20. Considering that the last green moon supposedly happened 420 years ago as well, this doesn't appear to be a coincidence.

12. Earth will go dark for two weeks

In July 2015, a website called "NewsWatch33" wrote an article claiming that Earth would have 15 days of complete darkness that year. The website, which is actually a fake news site, was borrowing from an older version of the tale that has been circulating for years, according to debunking website Snopes.

As we all know, Earth did not actually experience that much darkness that year. (The article claimed that the alleged darkness was partly due to a Jupiter-Venus conjunction, which actually took place more than 500 million miles apart.) Darkness occurs when the Earth rotates, causing the sun to "set" on the local horizon. Brief periods of darkness can also happen when the sun is totally obscured during total solar eclipses, which occur rarely in any particular spot on Earth. But even during an eclipse, Earth is never completely in the dark.

13. Zero-gravity day will make you weightless

If you ever wanted to leap into the sky and soar like Superman, this hoax is for you. In late 2014 and early 2015, a widely shared story claimed that on Jan. 4, 2015, everyone on Earth would experience weightlessness due to a rare alignment of the planets. A doctored image of a purported tweet from NASA's Twitter account that went around on social media fooled a lot of people into believing the hoax.

But, of course, nobody floated off the surface of Earth that day. Earth's gravity is too strong for people to become weightless. The only way to experience weightlessness without going to space is to ride aboard a plane that performs parabolas, with some including a few seconds of weightlessness. This is sometimes nicknamed the Vomit Comet.

14. Alien spacecraft caused a mysterious explosion

Back in 2004, an expedition of Russian researchers working in Siberia claimed to have discovered "an extraterrestrial device" close to where the mysterious Tunguska explosion occurred. Scientists still aren't sure exactly what it was that blew up in the sky over Siberia that day in 1908, but the leading theory is that it was a large meteorite or an asteroid, according to Live Science.

The Tunguska incident flattened hundreds of square miles of forest, and signs of the destruction were visible even decades afterward. At the time, news reports claimed that evidence of aliens was found at the site, but this claim was never substantiated. "The Russian team stupidly stated long before they went to Siberia that the main intention of their expedition was to find the remnants of an alien spaceship," Benny Peiser, a researcher at Liverpool John Moores University in the U.K., told Space.com. "And bingo! A week later, that's what they claim to have found."

15. UFO was caught "refueling" at the sun

NASA has a fleet of sun-gazing spacecraft that keep an eye on space weather, especially during solar eruptions. In 2012, telescopic images appeared to show something in the shadows. On YouTube, some viewers said this could be a UFO that was refueling by using the solar plasma.

However, NASA pointed out that the feature is actually something called a "prominence," which has cooler and denser plasma than the outer atmosphere of the sun, or the corona. Scientists are still trying to figure out how solar prominences develop, but they're pretty sure it has nothing to do with aliens.

16. There is a ______ on Mars!

With NASA's Opportunity and Curiosity rovers regularly taking pictures of the Martian surface, viewers have the chance to check out what they're doing in almost real time. NASA puts the raw images online for the public to see. But over the years, some weird shapes have cropped up. In 2008, for example, the Opportunity rover appeared to photograph a female figure. Other photos have shown things shaped like animals, spoons or other items.

You can imagine that, with all of the rocks available on Mars, some of them would happen to look like familiar objects. In fact, the human brain tends to perceive meaningful images in random patterns — a phenomenon known as pareidolia.

When evaluating the claims, consider that the Martian environment is extremely harsh to life as we know it; the surface is baked with radiation, the "air" is mostly carbon dioxide and there's not much atmospheric pressure.

17. I just saw a bright UFO!

It's a familiar trope for police stations and astronomy writers. From time to time, somebody will call (or write) in to say they just saw a UFO in the sky. While UFO is the term used for any flying object that an observer cannot identify, many people claim that they are alien spaceships. They spotted a bright light around sunset, or saw a light moving around in an unfamiliar way.

While every situation is different, one common explanation for "UFOs" is actually another extraterrestrial object: Venus. Venus can be extremely bright when it's at its closest, because it's relatively near Earth. The planet is also extremely reflective because the sun's light bounces off the clouds. So before calling to say you've spotted a UFO, check your sky charts!

18. NASA can travel faster than light

If you've seen the "Star Trek" clips that show the Enterprise spaceship warping into another sector, you might have wondered how fast NASA is making progress on being able to move at the speed of light. The EmDrive has created years of speculation, with some breathlessly saying NASA must be on the verge of breaking the famed barrier.

In reality, NASA is downplaying the reports. The engine in question is a prototype that is producing some interesting results, such as appearing to create thrust when there was no reason for this to happen – and thereby violating Newton's Third Law of Motion. That said, NASA has not yet verified the results from these tests, and the engine has not been widely discussed in peer-reviewed research.

19. We've launched balloons into space!

With the advent of high-resolution, miniature cameras, several people have decided to strap these cameras on to high-altitude balloons and take pictures from up high. They've caught glimpses of blackness and, at times, taken interesting tiny passengers along (such as 1000 Lego minifigures). So they must be in space, right?

There's no way a helium balloon can get into space, according to the California Institute of Technology, and simple physics explains why. When a balloon rises into the sky, the air inside will expand in response to the dropping atmospheric pressure and eventually pop. Even Felix Baumgartner's stunning high-altitude balloon jump in 2012 was not actually from space, but from the stratosphere, which extends to roughly 31 miles (50 kilometers) above the Earth's surface.

At that altitude the air is thin enough to see the blackness of space, but thick enough to support special high-altitude balloons. The boundary between Earth's atmosphere and outer space is about twice as high as the upper limits of the stratosphere.

20. There are canals on Mars

Author Percival Lowell became one of space's first popularizers when he wrote many books for the general public back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In these books and other writings, he said there were canals on Mars built by an intelligent civilization, perhaps to move water into desert-stricken areas. He claimed to have seen the canals in his own telescope, and produced several sketches that are still available on the internet today.

There are no artificial canals on Mars. Several spacecraft have flown by the planet or orbited it, and not one has caught signs of aliens from orbit. What they have seen, however, are smaller channels that were created by nature – likely from water, ice or other processes that cause erosion.

21. A star is flinging comets at Earth

A long-standing theory known as Nemesis supposes that there is some sort of "death star" on the outer edge of the solar system, whose orbital motions perturb comets in an icy region of objects known as the Oort Cloud. According to the myth, the star's gravity throws these comets toward the inner solar system, and these comets collide with Earth and cause mass extinctions once every 27 million years.

However, a 2011 study concluded that this idea is unlikely, because the comet strikes in recorded history haven't happened with any regularity. The pattern that was recorded in the hoax is actually a statistical artifact, or the result of researchers trying to find patterns in nature where they do not exist, the study's authors found.

22. There's life on Venus

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet Union sent several uncrewed missions to study Venus. Ten of these Venera probes landed on the surface of Venus and were able to transmit data and images for a few minutes before succumbing to the planet's extreme atmosphere. In 2012, the Russian news service RIA Novosti reported that Leonid Ksanfomaliti, a scientist who worked on the Venera missions, suggested that the photographs showed living objects moving around on the planet's surface. (RIA Novosti ceased operations in 2013.)

These alleged life-forms on Venus are just an example of "letting your mind see patterns in low-resolution data that simply aren't real," Jonathon Hill, a research technician who processes images taken during NASA's Mars missions, explained to Space.com's sister site, LiveScience, in 2012.

According to NASA, the objects that appeared to be moving were actually camera-lens covers that automatically popped off of the cameras after landing LiveScience reports. These half-circle objects were seen in images from Venera-13 and Venera-14, two identical spacecraft that landed about 590 miles (950 km) apart. Both had two identical cameras — one in the front and one in the back — so it makes sense that the covers would appear in different places. Another photograph that Ksanfomaliti said was a scorpion is actually a blur in the image.

23. An asteroid is about to crash into Earth

This recurring rumor claims that a threatening "doomsday" asteroid is about to slam into our planet. An example from 2015 had an asteroid purported to hit Earth in late September, when it would supposedly wreak devastation from its impact point near Puerto Rico. NASA quickly dismissed the reports — which turned out, as usual, to be false. But that's not to say that asteroids will never hit our planet.

NASA and a network of monitoring telescopes across the world are cataloging all known asteroids wider than 459 feet (140 meters) across in line with a 2005 congressional mandate. (Smaller asteroids, if found, are also cataloged.) Of the space rocks discovered so far, NASA has not found a single asteroid that has a high probability of hitting Earth in the foreseeable future.

24. Aliens landed in Roswell, New Mexico

On a ranch in Roswell, New Mexico, so the story goes, an alien spacecraft crashed in 1947. While the accounts of exactly what happen vary, the legend claims that a disc or some sort of spacecraft was found on a ranch, and that the government quickly covered up the evidence.

While rumors of aliens circulated, some people speculated that the crash was just a plain old weather balloon that might not have been recognized by the local community. The U.S. military acknowledged the "spacecraft" was actually a weather balloon sent aloft as part of Project Mogul, which involved flying microphones on high-altitude balloons to listen for sound waves generated by possible Soviet Union nuclear tests.

25. Climate change isn't real

Earth is on an abnormal warming trend. Arctic ice is melting, the sea level is rising and temperatures are going to extremes in many locations around the world. Why is this happening? Anti-climate-change conspirators have many explanations: solar activity, radiation, the Earth's (and sun's) movements around the Milky Way, among other theories.

While there are many components of climate change, the fact that humans have contributed to it is indisputable, according to NASA. Temperature graphs show that the climate has not warmed this much, this quickly in all of Earth's history (as seen in geological records), and that the increase correlates with increased industrialization.

Additional resources

For more myths about space, you can read this article by How It Works magazine. Additionally, you can watch this video by BBC Earth Lab.

Bibliography

"National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Unamended)". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. https://history.nasa.gov/spaceact.html

"Modern myths of Mars". Proc. SPIE 6309, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology IX, 63090C (14 September 2006). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.676304

When it comes to sci-fi TV shows, 2024 had a lot to offer. Every entry, bar one, premiered with their first season in 2024 and to rapturous applause. While none of these entries are yet to make it into the best sci-fi TV shows of all time though, there's plenty of story left to tell and time to make roots.

Whether it's book adaptations or totally new tales, the sci-fi genre shone in 2024 in ways it has never done before - and we can be thankful, in part, to the wonders of technology. Plus, the potential now given to the genre through originals across streaming hubs including Paramount Plus, Disney, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

You'll find a lot of the entries on our list are sci-fi originals from these platforms, so checking out the best streaming deals might also help you decide what to put on your watchlist. The best sci-fi TV shows of 2024 include intergalactic missions, animated shorts, and psychological horrors. With such scope, you'll hopefully find that our list is pretty special.

8. "3 Body Problem"

• Initial release: March 21, 2024
• Seasons: 1
• Cast: Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Liam Cunningham, and more
• Creators: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo

Netflix's 3 Body Problem is based on a juggernaut of a novel of the same name by Cixin Liu. Translated for the English language, it tackles an epic envisioning of a world where an extraterrestrial civilization wants to visit, all because of one world-impacting decision made in China in the 1960s. And, they don’t appear to be good-natured. What unravels is a planetary threat that shakes humanity apart.

It was considered a hugely ambitious project to transform this complex novel into a TV show, but at the helm stands Game of Thrones' co-creators, D. B. Weiss and David Benioff, alongside True Blood's Alexander Woo. And, with their expertise, they deliver a show that, while incredibly complicated, is totally devourable on the streaming platform.

Turning a science-focused story literally based on a physics problem could've made it unreachable, but 3 Body Problem delivers a captivating and thought-provoking watch - not forgetting some incredibly cool VR headsets that create a perplexing reality that we hope to never experience.

7. "Outer Range"

• Initial release: April 15, 2022
• Seasons: 2
• Cast: Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Lili Taylor, and more
• Creator: Brian Watkins

Mixing sci-fi and Western is always an unusual and exciting pairing of genres - like Westworld or The Book of Eli. So, when a Josh Brolin-fronted TV show emerged from Amazon Prime, viewers were intrigued.

Akin to the likes of the incredibly popular Yellowstone, Outer Range is based on a ranching family, the Abbotts, in the fictional town of Wabang, Wyoming and a warring family, the Tillersons, who want their land.

That's the least of their worries though as an enormous black void suddenly appears in the center of the land they're trying to protect. Oh, and that's after a mysterious woman called Autumn (Imogen Poots) asks to camp out there. Over two tense seasons, Royal (Josh Brolin) tries to uncover the truth, as well as investigating the disappearance of his daughter-in-law, Rebecca. Despite the positive reception, the show was unfortunately cancelled after just two seasons.

6. "Sunny"

• Initial release: July 10, 2024
• Seasons: 1
• Cast: Rashida Jones, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Joanna Sotomura, and more
• Creator: Katie Robbins

Apple TV Plus doesn't often venture into creating sci-fi originals, but when it does, it does it so well. Take Silo, for example. And then came Sunny, starring Rashida Jones as Suzie, an American woman living in Japan and her domestic robot, Sunny, sent to her following her husband and son's tragic deaths in a mysterious plane crash.

Suzie vows to discover the truth behind the company he worked for and what really happened to her family - and Sunny has a lot more to do with it than it first appears. In fact, she's been programmed by Suzie's husband, just for her. Sure, she finds Sunny pretty annoying at first, but as the plot unravels, there's the opportunity for some humor amongst it all whilst bravely stepping into the unknown. It's a standout hit of 2024 exploring themes of grief, friendship, and a modern interpretation of AI.

5. "Dark Matter"

• Initial release: May 8, 2024
• Seasons: 1
• Cast: Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, and more
• Creator: Blake Crouch

Another Apple TV Plus Original is psychological drama, Dark Matter (not to be confused with Syfy's space opera). Jason (Joel Edgerton), a physics professor, finds himself abducted by another version of himself and drawn into an alternate version of his entire life. Desperate to get back home, he has to fight to return to his life and make sure his counterpart, Jason 2, doesn't steal everything he's ever known and everyone he's ever loved.

We've become accustomed to the multiverse in recent times with the likes of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange straddling the concept in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Viewers enjoyed season one for its impressive acting and outstanding storytelling, and the show was renewed for season 2 in August 2024. So, if you want to catch up, now's the time to do it.

4. "Iwájú"

• Initial release: February 28, 2024
• Seasons: 1
• Cast: Simisola Gbadamosi, Dayo Okeniyi, Femi Branch, and more
• Creator: Olufikayo Adeola

This miniseries from Disney x Kugali is a delightful tale set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. Iwájú actually translates into future in the Yoruba language, if you're wondering about the title. In this six-part series, there's a socio-economic divide that sees high society enjoy the technological advancements of the modern day, whilst the poorer citizens live in less-than-satisfactory conditions and under strict control.

The story follows Tola as she vies to get her dad's attention in the wealthier side of Lagos. Though her dad is busy being a tech entrepreneur responsible for the city's futuristic twist, Tola's best friend, Kole, lives in the less-affluent side of Lagos, and so the sides intertwine throughout. It's a lot to take in, especially when you're busy enjoying the vibrant animation and colors of the show. But, it's a wonderfully unique sci-fi tale that manages to weave heritage and future technologies in a seamless fashion.

3. "Parasyte: The Grey"

• Initial release: April 5, 2004
• Seasons: 1
• Cast: Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun, and more
• Creator: Yeon Sang-ho

Parasyte: The Grey marks creator Yeon Sang-ho's follow-up to the supernatural thriller, Hellbound, for Netflix. It's a live-action spin-off of an incredibly popular manga series and follows an invasion of parasitic creatures that use humans as their hosts, by killing them. They can then shapeshift their heads into, well, anything really.

To defeat the parasites, a police squad called 'The Grey' is assembled. However, it's the character progression with Jeong Su-in that captivates as she develops a symbiotic relationship with one of the parasites.

It's an incredibly hard manga to transform into live-action, but the visual mastery and the commitment to staying true to the original work has meant Parasye: The Grey has been applauded for its impressive adaptation.

2. "X-Men '97"

• Initial release: March 20, 2024
• Seasons: 1
• Cast: Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, and more
• Creator: Beau DeMayo

Reviving the much-loved TV show, X-Men: The Animated Series, the story is finally continued. But, it carves itself a new place in the X-Men timeline as the mutants have to live a life without Professor Xavier to guide them. Instead, they're led by Magneto.

This TV revival gives the show a unique opportunity to grow, and it does so by developing the characters like never before, while also exploring new themes.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it 99% on the Tomatometer, which is outstanding given the original series got 83%. Plus, it doesn't matter if you didn't grow up with the original series because the depth, visuals, and humor injected into X-Men '97 formulate a show that is a standalone success.

1. "Fallout"

• Initial release: April 10, 2004
• Seasons: 1
• Cast: Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan, and more
• Creators: Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworest

Turning a video game into a TV show is a hard task, but one that Fallout insurmountably succeeded in doing. And, even if you've never played the game, it's an entirely accessible post-apocalyptic drama that’ll blow your socks off.

It's Los Angeles in the future, imagined as a dangerous landscape destroyed by nuclear bombs in the Great War of 2077. With an unlivable surface on Earth, humanity is forced to live in underground bunkers, called Vaults, to escape a wasteland of threats from radiation, to mutants, to bandits.

Life in the Vault quickly unravels and catapults the Vault Dwellers, one in particular called Lucy (Ella Purnell), on a treacherous adventure to discover the truth. With a star-studded cast, stunning visuals, and a compelling plot, Fallout was a huge hit for Amazon Prime Video and will be returning for Fallout season 2 in New Vegas, though there's no official release date just yet.

It's been a busy year on the sun, as it officially entered the peak of its roughly 11-year cycle of activity, known as solar maximum. In 2024, the sun launched over 50 X-class solar flares — the most powerful type of solar flare — at Earth.

Solar flares are categorized by the level of X-rays they produce in a specific wavelength range (1 to 8 angstroms). Solar flare classes follow a logarithmic scale, with each flare class — C, M and X — 10 times stronger than the previous one. Solar flares can also unleash giant clouds of plasma known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which can cause geomagnetic storms and widespread auroras.

The video above shows observations from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA). The left panels show emissions from AIA 131 Å, and the right from AIA 171 Å. These reveal plasma at approximately 18 million and 1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit (10 million and 1 million degrees Celsius), respectively. Below, we take a look at the 10 strongest solar flares between Jan. 1 and Dec. 10, 2024.

10. X3.38 — Feb. 9

This X3.38 flare, which occurred over the southwestern edge of the sun, would have measured much higher if most of the emission had not been blocked by the edge of the sun. This flare shows a good example of a "coronal wave," as coronal material in AIA 171 Å emission is seen to be almost "blown out of the way" by the original flare.

During this massive flare on Feb. 9, as with almost all X-class flares, the bright and concentrated signal produced an "X" or "star" shape diffraction pattern, which emanated from the bright flare site in AIA 131 Å emission. This diffraction pattern is an artifact of the telescope camera; it did not actually occur on the sun.

9. X3.48 — May 15

This is the first of four solar flares on this list to have originated from solar active region AR 13664.

AR 13664 was a famous highly productive active region, producing 12 X-class solar flares in just six days. The May 15 flare was the final X-class flare visible from Earth, and it would have measured higher if it had not already been partly obscured by the western edge of the sun.

As the active region rotated around the back of the sun and reemerged into view two weeks later, it continued to produce large flares (under a new active region number). Observations from the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter also revealed large flares from the region during the period it was hidden from Earth's view.

8. X3.98 — May 10

This solar flare also originated from active region AR 13664. The flare produced a strong Earth-directed CME — one of several to launch within a 48-hour window. The CME erupted from the perfect location on the sun to cause maximum impact on Earth.

As the series of CMEs arrived at our planet on May 11-12, they produced a G5 geomagnetic storm — the strongest geomagnetic storm since 2003. This resulted in widespread auroras at low latitudes that were viewed by millions across the world.

7. X4.52 – May 6

Another flare earlier in May was launched from active region AR 13663 — one active region lower than the source of the two flares above. While AR 13664 was busy producing eruptive flares in the sun's southern hemisphere, AR 13663 unleashed a series of X-class solar flares from the northern hemisphere. Most of these flares, including this May 6 event, did not produce notable Earth-directed coronal mass ejections.

6. X4.54 — Sept. 14

This solar flare produced a strong CME, directed over the sun's eastern limb. For flares around this magnitude and above, you can notice the pixel saturation overflowing into neighboring pixels and producing periodic sharp and jagged saturation features that bleed out above and below the bright flare site.

5. X5.89 — May 11

Just like the flare on May 6, this event originated in AR 13664. This flare also produced a coronal mass ejection, which formed part of the chain of CMEs that contributed to the extreme and long-duration G5 geomagnetic storm aimed at Earth.

Because the May 11 flare occurred closer to the limb than the earlier flare from the same active region, it was slightly less optimally placed to impact us head-on.

4. X6.37 – Feb. 22

Not all strong solar flares are interesting. Although this one clocked in at X6.37, it did not produce any Earth-directed CMEs and was not particularly noteworthy.

3. X7.10 — Oct. 1

This flare is one of two on this list to originate from active region AR 13842, alongside the strongest flare on the list.

Neither of the two strongest flares from this active region directed strong geomagnetic storms at Earth. However, smaller X-class flares from this same active region later went on to release the CMEs responsible for a strong G4 geomagnetic storm on Oct. 10, which again caused widespread low-latitude auroras across the world.

This is a good lesson to remember: Solar flare size is only weakly correlated with the potential for a flare-induced CME to create strong auroras. In the case of this active region, the larger flares had a smaller geomagnetic impact than the smaller flares did.

2. X8.79 — May 14

This is the fourth and final flare on this list from active region AR 13664, which has been by far the most X-class-productive active region during this solar cycle (so far). However, unlike the previous flares to erupt from this region, the May 14 flare was confined, without a significant eruption. Because of this, the physical size of the flare appears small, despite the strong X-ray emission.

1. X9.0 — Oct. 3

Finally, the largest flare of the year so far produced an enormous amount of energy — nine times the amount needed to cross the X-class-flare threshold. This was the third-largest solar flare since 2011 and the fifth-largest since 2005.

Will this be the strongest solar flare we see in Solar Cycle 25? As solar maximum continues into 2025, we'll have to wait and see.

Water is life, at least as we know it. Every life form on Earth uses liquid water, and researchers who study the origin of life believe life's complex chemistry likely got started either in a warm pool on Earth's surface or close to a deep-sea ocean vent.

Therefore, planetary scientists are particularly interested in extraterrestrial places with liquid water.

While Earth has liquid oceans on its surface, only 0.2% of Earth's mass is water. By contrast, some planets and moons may be up to 50% water, meaning they could have oceans hundreds, or even thousands, of miles deep. 

Let's dive into some of the most promising water worlds in the solar system and beyond. 

Europa

Scientists first became aware that Jupiter's moon Europa likely possessed a liquid ocean underneath its icy exterior during NASA's Galileo mission, which launched in 1989. For nearly eight years, the Galileo spacecraft orbited Jupiter, where it observed interactions between Europa and Jupiter's magnetic field that indicated the presence of water inside the moon. 

The Europa Clipper mission will travel to Europa to determine if it is habitable. It is the first time a spacecraft will travel to a water world. Researchers are particularly interested in the mixing of water and rock deep inside Europa's interior, where nutrients and chemicals may be able to support microbial life similar to the way ocean vent sites host life on Earth. 

Callisto

Callisto, Jupiter's second-largest moon, could also be home to a subsurface liquid ocean. Callisto has the most-cratered surface in the solar system, suggesting that the moon does not have any geological or weathering processes. However, roughly 155 miles (250 kilometers) beneath the surface, a salty ocean may be interacting with a layer of rocks, which could facilitate habitable conditions deep inside the moon. Oxygen has also been detected in Callisto's exosphere, the uppermost region of the moon's thin atmosphere.  

Ganymede

In 2015, scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope found that Jupiter's largest moon, Ganymede, also likely possessed an interior liquid-water ocean. Ganymede has its own magnetic field, which generates auroras at its magnetic poles. Observations of Ganymede's auroras showed that an interior ocean of liquid water likely suppresses the rocking of Ganymede's magnetic field as it interacts with Jupiter's magnetic field. 

Ganymede's ocean is thought to be 60 miles (100 km) thick, which is nearly 10 times deeper than Earth's ocean. Ganymede and the other Galilean moons likely formed from similar materials that surrounded Jupiter during the early stages of the solar system, which explains why each moon likely has a relatively high ratio of water. 

Enceladus

Enceladus — a small, icy moon of Saturn — is one of the most exciting places where planetary scientists have detected water in the solar system. This is because ice geysers on Enceladus' surface spew water and ice into space, providing a way for researchers to directly sample materials from the moon's interior. 

This water and ice are ejected from an interior ocean, and in 2005, the Cassini spacecraft discovered that these materials gushed from the moon's surface at roughly 800 mph (1,300 km/h). Warm vents are also thought to provide the moon's ocean with minerals and nutrients that are crucial to life.  

Titan

Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is unlike anything else in the solar system. Its surface is covered in lakes, rivers, seas, clouds and rain composed of the hydrocarbons methane and ethane. Beneath its icy crust, Titan is thought to house an internal liquid-water ocean, which could be home to life. Its surface could also host life forms that are completely different from anything on Earth, as they might use different chemical pathways to generate energy.

Although Titan's chemical composition is very different from Earth's, this large moon has features associated with habitability, such as a dense atmosphere and dynamic geological and weathering processes. 

TOI-1452 b

 In 2022, using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, an international team of researchers discovered the exoplanet TOI-1452 b. The planet is about 1.6 times the size of Earth and is classified as a super-Earth. It is five times as massive as Earth, and its density may suggest that a large percentage of the planet — potentially 30% — is composed of water.  

TOI-1452 b, which is about 100 light-years from Earth, is a prime candidate for further observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). 

LHS-1140 b

In July 2024, researchers using the JWST observed an atmosphere on the exoplanet LHS-1140 b, which may sustain a liquid ocean on its surface. The planet orbits a red dwarf star five times smaller than the sun and sits 48 light-years from Earth. 

Further JWST data suggested the planet could be composed of 10% to 20% liquid water. LHS-1140 b orbits in such a way that the same side always faces its star. Additionally, current models have suggested the planet could be a giant snowball, which means there could be a "bull's-eye" ocean on the side that always faces its star. 

Kepler-138 c and d

Two possible water worlds, Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 d, orbit a red dwarf star 218 light-years from our solar system. In 2022, researchers found that the planets' apparent densities suggested that these worlds may be composed of a high percentage of water. 

Researchers think up to half of the materials that make up these planets should be lighter than rock but heavier than hydrogen or helium. The most common ingredient in the cosmos that fits these criteria is water. 

HAT-P-11 b

In 2014, astronomers discovered water vapor on a Neptune-size world 124 light-years from Earth. The exoplanet, designated HAT-P-11 b, is close to its home star, taking only five days to make a full orbit. It is a scorching world, with surface temperatures that soar to over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (530 degrees Celsius), and is believed to house a rocky core and a gaseous, water-vapor atmosphere rich in hydrogen. 

Researchers spotted water in HAT-P-11 b's atmosphere using a method called transmission spectroscopy. When an exoplanet passes by — from our point of view — its host star, the starlight travels through the exoplanet's atmosphere. Different atmospheric particles absorb some of the starlight at specific wavelengths. By analyzing which wavelengths are absorbed, scientists can determine the chemical composition of the atmosphere. 

K2-18 b

 In 2019, water vapor was discovered in the atmosphere of a planet called K2-18 b, a super-Earth 110 light-years from the solar system. The exoplanet orbits a red dwarf star and is thought to be just the right distance from it for any water on its surface to exist in liquid form. 

However, planetary scientists are unsure if the planet is a rocky world or a giant ball of liquid and gas. 

Additional information

Based on current exoplanet data, super-Earths and sub-Neptunes are thought to be the most common planet classes in our galaxy, and a subsection of those planets are likely water worlds. These planets are big, however, and the interaction of water in their oceans and rock in their interiors will dictate how habitable those planets might be. You can learn more about those dynamics in this research published in the journal Nature. 

Europa Clipper will give scientists unprecedented information about the habitability of small water worlds, such as those found around Jupiter and Saturn. Read more about why the mission will visit Europa on the NASA mission page. 

Water worlds are thought to be common in the cosmos, which means they may be some of the best places to look for extraterrestrial life. For a discussion on how common they might be, read this paper in the journal Science. 

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Discovery Alert: Intriguing New ‘Super-Earth’ Could Get a Closer Look, NASA [Accessed 7/19/24] [https://science.nasa.gov/universe/exoplanets/discovery-alert-intriguing-new-super-earth-could-get-a-closer-look/]

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Kovačević, T., González-Cataldo, F., Stewart, S.T. et al. Miscibility of rock and ice in the interiors of water worlds. Sci Rep 12, 13055 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16816-w

Martin, W., Baross, J., Kelley, D. et al. Hydrothermal vents and the origin of life. Nat Rev Microbiol 6, 805–814 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1991

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NASA Telescopes Find Clear Skies and Water Vapor on Exo-Neptune, NASA, [Accessed 7/19/2024] [https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2014/news-2014-42.html?Year=2014&news=true]

Piaulet, C., Benneke, B., Almenara, J.M. et al. Evidence for the volatile-rich composition of a 1.5-Earth-radius planet. Nat Astron 7, 206–222 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-022-01835-4

Rafael Luque,Enric Pallé,Density, not radius, separates rocky and water-rich small planets orbiting M dwarf stars. Science 377,1211-1214(2022).DOI:10.1126/science.abl7164

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On Oct. 2, an annular solar eclipse will be visible along a wide path that spans the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island, and southern South America. 

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon drifts in front of the sun while it's slightly farther from Earth than during a total solar eclipse, so it doesn't completely cover the sun's disk. Instead the moon only partially obscures the sun's disk, leaving a vivid ring of light around it, hence why an annular solar eclipse is also known as a "ring of fire" solar eclipse. 

Peaking at 7 minutes and 25 seconds, during which 93% of the sun's center will be covered, this path will measure approximately 165 to 206 miles (265 to 331 km) wide and move across landmasses, including Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and its 1,000 moai, southern Chile and Argentina. It will be the longest annular solar eclipse until Feb. 6, 2027, when a 7 minutes and 51 seconds "ring of fire" will be visible once again from Chile and Argentina as well as from Uruguay, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

During an annular solar eclipse, it is NEVER safe to look directly at the sun without solar eclipse glasses designed for solar viewing. Read our guide on how to observe the sun safely. 

Related: What the 'ring of fire' eclipse looked like from the home of ancient solar astronomy 

You can keep up with all the solar eclipse action with our solar eclipse live blog. We will also be streaming the eclipse live on Space.com, more details on how to watch online will be released closer to the time.

It's sensible to properly plan an engaging, worthwhile vacation, building an itinerary around a solar eclipse so you won't be too disappointed if a cloud blocks the eclipse at the wrong moment. That's definitely the case for this "ring of fire," which occurs in a region where clouds are likely. 

Although most of the scenic spots are arguably on Rapa Nui, experienced eclipse chasers often observe annulars from the path's edge to see extended views of Baily's beads. Chile and Argentina are the only places to be in that category. 

Here are 16 spots that could be perfect locations for this rare event. 

All times come from timeanddate and are for the "ring of fire" only. A partial solar eclipse will be seen about 85 minutes before and after the ring. 

Related: What's the difference between a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse?

1. Ahu Tongariki

Rapa Nui is reached by plane from Santiago, Chile, 2,600 miles (4200 kilometers) west. Perhaps its most iconic location is the newly restored Ahu Tongariki, where 15 moai are positioned on a 200-foot-long (60 m) ceremonial platform. The eclipse will take place 67 degrees up in the northern sky.  

2. Rano Raraku

This quarry on the slopes of an extinct volcano is where most of the moai were carved, and there are about 400 still in situ. It's very close to Ahu Tongariki.  

3. Hanga Roa

Given that this eclipse could be about finding a gap in the clouds, the capital city, Hanga Roa — where most of the accommodation is — may be the best place to view.

4. Ahu Tahai

Part of a ceremonial complex restored in 1974 by American archaeologist William Mulloy, Ahu Tahai has five prominent moai. It's just north of Hanga Roa.  

5. Moai Paro

This moai at Ahu Te Pito Kura on the East Coast is over 32 feet long, weighs 82 tons and lies with its face in the ground.  

6. Te Pito o Te Henua

A massive 'navel of the world' boulder that is said to mark where the people of the Rapa Nui culture thought the center of the world was.  

7. Anakena Beach

Seven moai stand guard at Ahu Nau-Nau on the white coral sand beach of Anakena on the northeast coast of Rapa Nui. Nearby is a single moai, Ahu-Ature Huki. 

8. Ahu Huri a Urenga

The lone moai statue at Ahu Huri A Urenga — one of the few not on the coast — is the only one with four hands. Close to Hanga Roa, it looks at the sunrise point on the June solstice and is considered a solar observatory.  

9. Orongo

Perched on a ridge between a deep crater and a vertical drop to the ocean, the stone village of Orongo will have the longest 'ring of fire' on Rapa Nui.

10. Cochrane

As the 'ring of fire' reaches Chile, it will be about 26 degrees above north-northwest. A base for adventures into the Aisén or Aysén region is Cochrane, which is halfway between the centerline and the northern limit, and just to the northeast is Tamango National Reserve.  

11. Santa Julia

Watch from the edge if you want to see extended Baily's beads. A good location might be in Patagonia's Aisén region just north of Santa Julia on the Carretera Austral, the name given to Chile's 775-mile (1,247 km) long Route 7 through rural Patagonia.  

12. Chile Chico

Another edge option is Chile Chico on the northern edge of the path in Chilean Patagonia. On the southern shore of General Carrera Lake, ringed by glaciers and mountains, it's right on the border with Argentina. It's very close to Lago Jeinimeni National Reserve for condors and guanacos and Parque Patagonia.  

13. Perito Moreno National Park

Perito Moreno National Park is a vast, wild place covering 126,830 hectares of mountains, valleys and lakes (don't confuse it with Perito Moreno Glacier, which is in Los Glaciares National Park, south of the path). Perito Moreno National Park is entirely within the path, with the driest area in the east. Open from October to April, it can be windy and snowy at any time. 

14. Puerto Deseado

At Puerto Deseado on the Deseado River, the prize is a likely clearer sky and a much lower eclipse, with the sun about 20 degrees above NNW on the coast of Argentina. Head to Ramon Lista 55 miles (89 km) northwest on Highway 281 for edge effects. 

15. Puerto San Julián

This natural harbor in Patagonia is home to a small town. It used to be frequented by long-distance sailing ships, with Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan overwintering here in 1520 during the world's first circumnavigation. He named the local people "Patagonians." It's the perfect location if you're undecided about whether to go to the centerline or the edge —as it's easy to get to both by car. 

16. Cruise ship

The path of annularity on Oct. 2 will stretch 8,800 miles (14,163 km), but barely 600 miles (1,000km) crosses land. That makes a Pacific cruise possible, though the path passes very close to the Falkland Islands in the southern Atlantic (however, Antarctica cruises that visit the Falklands tend to start in November). 

A total solar eclipse will occur on April 8 and be visible through northern Mexico, parts of 15 U.S. states and southeastern Canada. 

About 31 million people live within the path of totality — a 115-mile (185-kilometer) wide route through Northern America where the moon will cover 100% of the sun's disk — making it one of the most-watched eclipses ever. You can also keep up with all the eclipse content with our total solar eclipse live blog and watch it live here on Space.com. 

The complete veiling of the sun by the moon has captivated humans for millennia and there's no surprise why. When the sky darkens and the temperature drops, all we can do is watch in awe as the spellbinding event unfolds.

Related: Total solar eclipse live blog

Here we take a look at some iconic photographs through the ages of people enjoying the beauty and wonder of a solar eclipse.

Above is an image taken on July 18, 1860. It shows a crowd gathered to watch the total solar eclipse from Rivabellosa, Spain. You can see the lens of the telescope just above its shelter. Warren De La Rue (1815-1889) a pioneer in astronomical photography, appears twice as this view was montaged from two separate photographs.

On May 28, 1900, a total solar eclipse passed over North America, the path of totality cut right through Wadesboro, North Carolina, U.S, making it a perfect location to study the eclipse. This photograph shows Samuel Pierpont Langley's Bolometre or coelostat with an equatorial photographic room installed in the camp set up by the Smithsonian Institute to study the eclipse. 

On April 8, 1921, a partial solar eclipse was visible over France. Here three women in Paris, France watch the eclipse unfold.

On Sept. 10, 1923 a solar eclipse swept across southwestern corner of California, crossing Point Concepcion, the Channel Islands, and San Diego.

On Jan. 24, 1925, a total solar eclipse was visible above Vose Field in Westerly, Rhode Island. In this photograph, a group of people gather in zero-degree weather to watch the eclipse with the corona — the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere — visible during totality.

On June 29, 1927, a total solar eclipse was visible over the U.K., the first to be seen over the British mainland in 203 years. Here, a group gathers at a London window to view the momentous eclipse. 

In June 1927 a group of nurses gathered to watch a solar eclipse that occurred over the U.K. 

People on a hill near Giggleswick, North Yorkshire, U.K. watch the total eclipse of the sun on June 29, 1927. 

Here a London schoolteacher instructs his students not to view the sun with the naked eye but to use instead two dense photographic negatives sandwiched together to protect the eyes.

On June 19, 1936, a partial solar eclipse was visible above the U.K., here, an amateur astronomy photographer photographs the event from Northern Heights in Hornsey, London, U.K.

Two amateur astronomers study the partial solar eclipse visible on June 19, 1936,  from Northern Heights in Hornsey, London, U.K.

Crowds gather to watch a partial solar eclipse from the steps of Sacré Coeur, in Paris, France, October 2, 1959. 

People observe the solar eclipse from the Trocadero esplanade on October 2, 1959, in Paris.

The total solar eclipse of March 7, 1970, swept along the East Coast of the United States and was rigorously observed and televised. It was known as the 'Eclipse of the Century.'

Here, a group gathers to watch the eclipse unfold on a projection screen rigged to a 4-inch telescope in City Park by Ron Tanguay, 1380 Peoria St., Aurora. In this area, only a partial eclipse was visible where the moon covered slightly more than 46 percent of the sun's disk.

Ronald Cody, a second year graduate student in physics at Rutgers, uses a telescope to view the total solar eclipse in Nantucket, Massachusetts on March 7, 1970.

Jeff Fischbeck sent us this incredible image he captured in 1970 of the total solar eclipse on March 7.  "It's printed from a multiple exposure taken on one sheet of black and white film," Fischbeck told Space.com in an email. 

"The round trip of 2000 miles and driving 24+ hours straight each way to get back to college classes was well worth it." Fischbeck continued.

Fischbeck used a Crown Graflex camera and 3-1/4" x 4-1/4” Kodak Tri-X (ASA 320) film to capture the impressive eclipse sequence.

A group of people observe the solar eclipse with a delegation of scientists from Canada and the United States on Feb. 16, 1980, in Karwar, India

Long-time associate editor of Sky & Telescope magazine, Dennis di Cicco, prepares for the solar eclipse on June 30, 1973, one of the longest total solar eclipses of modern times.

People gather to observe a partial solar eclipse with eclipse glasses on Oct. 12, 1996, in Saint Renan, western France. 

Remember, to safely view the total solar eclipse on April 8 you must use solar filters. Only those in the path of totality will briefly be able to remove them to see the sun's corona with their naked eyes. Those not in the path of totality must keep them on the entire time. 

Everyone observing the partial phases of this eclipse — and for those outside the path of totality, that's the entire event — will need to wear solar eclipse glasses while cameras, telescopes and binoculars will need solar filters placed in front of their lenses. 

Our how to observe the sun safely guide tells you everything you need to know about safe solar observations. 

On April 8, 2024, North America will experience the world's longest land-based total solar eclipse in over a decade. 

The path of totality will cross parts of four states in Mexico, 15 U.S. states, and five Canadian provinces, allowing around 40 million people to witness the celestial spectacle. 

You can watch the total solar eclipse live here on Space.com. And keep up with all the actions with our total solar eclipse 2024 live updates blog.

But how much do you know about it? From exactly how long the moon's central shadow will move across the planet to why the event will repeat for hundreds of years — and one day return to North America — here are ten facts that may surprise you. 

Related: Why April's total Solar Eclipse will bring unique views of the sun's corona

1. Totality will occur on land for 100 minutes

After the moon's central shadow touches the Earth at sunrise in the Pacific Ocean close to Starbuck Island in Kiribati, it will take 3 hours and 16 minutes to cross the Earth before it departs at sunset in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Azores. 

The path of totality will be about 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) long, less than half of which occurs on land. Totality will move across North America — Mexico, the U.S. and Canada — in 100 minutes, spending 68 minutes moving across parts of 15 U.S. states. 

For those within the path of totality, it will bring the longest totality on land (4 minutes 28 seconds) since the total solar eclipse on July 11, 2010, in Easter Island/Rapa Nui. 

2. It will be nothing like October's 'ring of fire' solar eclipse

If you saw the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, through eclipse glasses, and you're considering giving this one a miss, think again. This is a total solar eclipse, where the moon will briefly cover the entire disk of the sun. 

Only during this kind of solar eclipse can the sun's outer corona be seen with the naked eye—it's like seeing our star for the first time, floating in space, and it's guaranteed to leave you a gibbering wreck. 

REMEMBER to NEVER look at the sun directly. To safely view this solar eclipse you must use solar filters. Only during the exact moment of totality, when the moon completely obscures the sun can you look with the naked eye. At all other times, precautions need to be taken. Observers will need to wear solar eclipse glasses, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars must have solar filters placed in front of their lenses.

Related: Best solar viewing kit 2024: Observe the April 8 solar eclipse

3. Parts of 15 U.S. states will experience totality

About 115 miles wide as it races across Earth's surface, the path of totality will cross parts of four states in Mexico (Sinaloa, Nayarit, Durango and Coahuila), 15 U.S. states (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine) and seven Canadian Provinces (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland). In the U.S., totality will begin in Texas at 1:27 pm CDT and end in Maine at 3:35 pm EDT. 

Related: Where will the April 2024 total solar eclipse be visible from?

4. Tennessee and Michigan get only a technical totality

The path of totality touches a small corner of Tennessee and Michigan. In Tennessee, only the northwest corner is in the path, with a maximum of 2 minutes and 7 seconds at Kentucky Bend/New Madrid Bend. In Michigan, only the southeast corner is in the path, with 1 minute 20 seconds at the exclave of Lost Peninsula Marina.  

5. A tiny village in Mexico will get the best view

Within any path of totality is a center point, a point of maximum eclipse, where a total solar eclipse will be experienced around midday with the sun and moon at their highest in the sky. It's here where the geometry of the sun, moon, and Earth line up precisely, meaning the slowest-moving shadow — and so the longest totality. 

On April 8, that point is just 4 miles (6 kilometers) to the north of Nazas, population 3,600, in the Mexican state of Durango. From here, totality will last 4 minutes and 28 seconds. 

6. It's part of a repeating event in North America

Solar eclipses come in families called Saros (Greek for repetition). Every 6,585.3 days, a shadow of the moon hits Earth of roughly the same proportions as the previous one. The only reason it doesn't occur in the same place is that .3 of a day (around 8 hours), which means Earth has rotated slightly. 

The total solar eclipse on April 8 is part of Saros 139, which 6,585.3 days previously, on March 29, 2006, produced an almost identical totality for Africa and Asia. The next eclipse in Saros 139 after 2024 will occur on April 20, 2042, when totality is visible from Indonesia, Eastern Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. 

However, every fourth repetition (54 years), a total solar eclipse occurs in roughly the same place, something called an exeligmos: 

• March 7, 1970: Mexico, the U.S. (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Massachusetts) and Canada (Nova Scotia and Newfoundland) 
• May 11, 2078: Mexico, the U.S. (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia) 

7. Seasons determine the path of totality

Look at the central paths of the two solar eclipses that will strike North America within six months — the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, and the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. 

One shadow moves northwest-southeast, and the other moves southwest-northeast, but why? Though the position and distance of the moon have a huge effect on the eclipse, the differing orientation of the paths is down to Earth's titled axis, which is leaning different ways during both eclipses. In October (fall), the Earth moves downwards as it rotates, while in April (spring), it moves upwards. 

8. It's a 'city eclipse'

About 40 million people live within the path of totality on April 8, around three-quarters of them in the U.S. Major cities inside the path include Mazatlan and Torreon in Mexico, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Cleveland, Buffalo and Rochester in the U.S. and Hamilton and Montreal in Canada. That accounts for about 10 million people. However, there are also many huge cities close to the path of totality, whose residents only have to drive very short distances to experience totality — something eclipse-chasers travel worldwide to experience. St Louis, Cincinnati, Toronto and Quebec are very close to the path, while the inhabitants of Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., are all within 200 miles of the path of totality. 

9. Alaska misses out on totality — but not for long

Neither of the two non-contiguous U.S. states will see a total solar eclipse on April 8. Hawaii will see a 20% partial solar eclipse at sunrise. In comparison, only southeast Alaska west of Juneau — including Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve — will see up to a 5% partial solar eclipse mid-morning. However, Alaska will only have to wait until just after sunrise on March 30, 2033 — almost exactly 9 years later — before it sees a total solar eclipse. A maximum of 2 minutes and 37 seconds of totality will be experienced, with key observing locations within a 500-mile wide path of totality, including Utqiaġvik, Kotzebue, Nome and St Lawrence Island. 

10. The U.K. will have the last view of the eclipse

Few will notice it, but this total solar eclipse for North America ceases to exist on the west coast of the U.K. A sunset commences on April 8, from the west coast of Wales, England, and Scotland, where it will be possible to see a tiny bite taken from the sun in the slightest of partial solar eclipses. A very low view of the horizon will be required — in practice, an ocean horizon — as well as clear skies. 

 North America is preparing for a total solar eclipse on a never-before-seen scale. 

On April 8 this year, millions of people in northern Mexico, the U.S. and southeastern Canada will experience totality — darkness in the day and the chance to see the sun's corona with the naked eye — yet few appreciate how rare and unique this event will be. 

Here's why it could be the best for hundreds of years — and for many years into the future: 

Related: The best places in the US to experience totality during the April 2024 solar eclipse 

1. It will be the longest U.S total solar eclipse since 1806 

Experience this total solar eclipse from Mexico, you may be able to get 4 minutes and 28 seconds of totality. That will reduce as the moon's dark central shadow speeds up and becomes stretched as it moves from southwest to northeast, but on the U.S.-Mexico border, 4 minutes 26 seconds is possible. 

The last time a totality of this length occurred in North America was on June 16, 1806, when a total solar eclipse lasting up to 4 minutes 55 seconds surged across the U.S. from Baja California to Cape Cod via Albuquerque, Kansas City, Cleveland and Boston. It was promoted to Bostonians by the book Darkness At Noon. That event is also known as Tecumseh's Eclipse. According to eclipse-chaser Bill Kramer, two leaders of the Shawnee people predicted the eclipse and witnessed it from Greenville, Ohio — which on April 8 will experience totality for 3 minutes 55 seconds. It will be Ohio's first total solar eclipse since 1806.  

2. It will occur at solar maximum 

Anyone who has seen the solar corona with their naked eyes during totality will know that it is always an utterly spectacular sight. During solar minimum — when our star's magnetic activity is at its lowest in its roughly 11-year cycle — it has an asymmetrical, thorny look, as it did during the last total solar eclipse in North America on August 21, 2017. That will not be the case on April 8, when the sun's corona will seem larger, more symmetrical and sunflower-like. It's a consequence of magnetic activity in the sun, and sometime this year, the sun is predicted to reach solar maximum. 

The last time a total solar eclipse visible from North America coincided with solar maximum was on February 26, 1979, when totality lasted as long as 2 minutes 49 seconds within a path through Washington, Montana and North Dakota in the U.S. and Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, Canada, and Greenland. 

3. It will be the darkest U.S total solar eclipse for 217 years 

A long totality also means a darker totality, which could surprise eclipse-chasers who witnessed the early twilight-like light during totality at the last U.S. total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. The level of darkness is a function of the magnitude of a solar eclipse — the fraction of the sun's diameter obscured by the moon, affecting the width of the path of totality. In 2017, the magnitude was 1.03 and the path of totality was about 70 miles wide. The sky darkened enough to reveal Venus. On April 8, the magnitude will 1.05 and the path of totality about 115 miles wide, revealing Jupiter as well as Venus.  

4. A comet may be visible during totality

It is something of a long shot, but a comet may be visible during totality on April 8. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks — also known as the "Devil Comet" — will be about 25 degrees from the sun, relatively close to Jupiter.

While Jupiter should be visible during totality to the naked eye totality, the comet could reach magnitude +4.7, putting it on the cusp of naked eye visibility. So it's probable that the comet won't be easily seen — unless it has an outburst, something it has done before. 

If you plan to observe totality through binoculars, it may be worth a quick scan to look for it, though it's more likely to show up on long-exposure images. Bright "eclipse comets" are very rare, with images more likely to reveal them if they're around. That last happened during the total solar eclipse in Chile and Argentina on December 14, 2020, when Comet C/2020 X3 (SOHO) was detected during totality.  

5. It will be the most-watched total solar eclipse ever in North America 

About 31 million people in the U.S. live inside the path of totality, which will go through parts of 15 U.S. states, according to GreatAmericanEclipse.com. Add northern Mexico and Canada, and it's around 40 million. That compares to about 12 million for the 2017 total solar eclipse. 

6. This total solar eclipse will be one of the most urban 

About a quarter of everyone who experiences totality on April 8 will do so from a city. Huge cities in the path of totality include Mazatlán and Torreón in Mexico, Dallas-ForthWorth-Arlington, Austin and (parts of) San Antonio in Texas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, and Hamilton, Niagara, St. Catharines, Kingston and Montreal in Canada. That's about 10 million people. 

There are many other reasons why the total solar eclipse on April 8 will be unique. The last total solar eclipse in North America until one in Alaska on March 30, 2033, it will be the longest totality (peaking at 4 minutes 28 seconds in Nazas, Mexico) observed on land since a 4 minutes 40 seconds totality on Rapa Nui/Easter Island on July 11, 2010. It also crosses the path of the 2017 total solar eclipse, with Southern Illinois and Missouri experiencing totality for the second time in less than seven years. 

Keep up to date with the latest eclipse content on our eclipse live blog and watch all the total eclipse action unfold live here on Space.com. 

Update for 3:45 p.m. ET: The annular solar eclipse of 2023 has completed its pass over the United States and moved into parts of Central America and South America. Read our wrap to see amazing photos and videos.

Where to go for the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, is largely down to where the eclipse path is. 

On that day the entire Americas will experience a partial solar eclipse, but the 'ring of fire' will only be visible from within a 125-mile (200-kilometer) wide path heading from the northwest U.S. through Central America to Brazil. 

You can watch the annular eclipse online here on Space.com courtesy of NASA, beginning at 11:30 a.m. EDT (1630 GMT), and follow along with all the action on our annular eclipse live updates page. 

More: Live updates of the Oct. 14 solar eclipse
Related: How long will the annular solar eclipse last on Oct. 14?

Observers in northeastern Arizona should note that all Navajo Tribal Parks will be closed from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. MDT on October 14, 2023, due to Navajo cultural beliefs surrounding the event. This includes Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park and parts of the Tséyi’ Diné Heritage Area in Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

That path of the eclipse is the moon's antumbra, where the moon appears completely within the sun's disk to create the 'ring of fire' effect. The light levels will also noticeably fade as 90% of the sun is covered. Outside of the path is the moon's penumbra — its fuzzier outer shadow — where a partial solar eclipse will be visible across North, Central and South America

Related: How to read and understand a solar eclipse map

Although it won't be as dramatic as the total solar eclipse 177 days later on April 8, 2024, in Mexico the U.S. and Canada, this annular solar eclipse will be worth watching. "The 'ring of fire' will be a spectacle all of its own," Michael Zeiler, cartographer and eclipse-chaser at GreatAmericanEclipse.com told Space.com during a Zoom interview. "With eclipse glasses, you'll see the eerie sight of the sun appearing as a brilliant ring of sunlight." 

How to make a plan for the 'ring of fire' solar eclipse

When planning where to go, research where has the best climate and likelihood of clear skies. "I would recommend the U.S. National Parks in the 'Four Corners' area where Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona meet because it's a sunny time of year after the monsoon season and before the winter storms," says Zeiler. "An ideal trip would be to rent an RV and visit some of the magnificent places in the area at a time of year when you're not going to encounter huge crowds, except on eclipse day." However, it would be wise to stay mobile and keep plans relatively fluid, checking weather apps like Windy in the days before the eclipse and re-locating if necessary. 

It all begins with the position of the path of annularity on October 14, 2023. Only eight U.S. states, from Oregon through Texas, will see the 'ring of fire' (we've not included Idaho since only a tiny sliver of that state is crossed by the path). Here's where you need to be on the day of the eclipse to see the most of what this solar eclipse has to offer. 

Related: Annular solar eclipse October 2023: Plan your trip to see the amazing 'ring of fire' eclipse with these top tips 

1. Southern Oregon

As the 'ring of fire' arrives in the Beaver State it will be just 17 degrees up in the southeast, so photographers will likely line its beautiful coast between Lincoln Beach and Denmark. However, it's an often misty coast, so it's a risky choice. 

Ditto the sight of the 'ring of fire' reflecting in America's deepest lake at Crater Lake National Park. Nearby is Klamath Falls and its EclipseFest 2023. Clear skies are more likely on the eastern side of the Cascade mountain range, with the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway in the arid high desert potentially a good option. Either way, it could get busy in Oregon. "The path is a two-hour drive south from Portland and six hours from Seattle," says Zeiler. "That's a lot of people." 

Related: 10 breathtaking locations to see October 2023's 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse 

2. Northeastern California

Although the annular solar eclipse comes to California, the path only clips its northeast corner. "It's a very lightly populated part of California," says Zeiler, who doesn't think the area will get too many visits from within the state. "For people in the San Francisco Bay area or southern California, their shortest journey into the path takes them into Nevada or Utah." One scenic location within California is Lava Beds National Monument close to the northern edge of the path, where a long display of Baily's beads is expected. 

Related: 'Ring of fire' from US national parks: 7 great places to see the annular solar eclipse 2023

3. Northern Nevada

Massacre Rim Dark Sky National Conservation Area in remote northwestern Nevada might attract the adventurous, but most will head from California or Salt Lake City on Interstate 80 (which intersects the path and passes many small towns, such as Winnemucca), or from Las Vegas in the south. A popular target will be Great Basin National Park in the Snake Range. Nearby Ely will host a NASA live-streaming team at its Ring of Fire Eclipse Festival.  

4. Southern Utah

The path through Utah crosses some of the most iconic landscapes in the U.S. Visitors from Salt Lake City and Las Vegas can intersect the path using Interstate 15, but to its southeast are U.S. National Parks including Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands. However, choices are almost endless, with other beauty spots in the path including State Parks like Kodachrome Basin, Goosenecks and Goblin Valley, the National Monuments of Natural Bridges, Bear Ears and Hovenweep. Valley of the Gods near Mexican Hat is also in the path. 

Related: Dark Sky Utah: A complete guide to astro-travel in America's darkest state 

5. Southwest Colorado

Colorado is another state just shaved by the eclipse path, but this Mesa Verde Region of the Colorado Plateau includes the famous Mesa Verde National Park and the less visited Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and Yucca House National Monument as well as the town of Cortez. A popular place — with the longest-lasting 'ring of fire' in Colorado — will be the Four Corners National Monument where Colorado meets Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. 

Related: The ultimate guide to planning epic stargazing road trips in the US southwest 

6. Northeastern Arizona

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park was originally slated to be open but it has since been announced that it will be closed. 

Although northeastern Arizona is technically a great place to see the "ring of fire", in practice it won't be easy. In September 2023 it was announced that all Navajo Tribal Parks will be closed from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm MDT on October 14, 2023, due to Navajo cultural beliefs surrounding the event. This includes Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park and parts of the Tséyi’ Diné Heritage Area in Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Local businesses may also be closed. 

However, Goulding's Lodge across from Monument Valley will be operating tours on October 14 while Navajo National Monument to the south hasn't announced any closure. 

Eclipse-chasers at all of these locations should respect indigenous attitudes to eclipses. Popular tourist sites around Page, Arizona — such as Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell — are sadly just beyond the southern limits of the path. 

7. New Mexico

The path dissects New Mexico from northwest to southeast, crossing some remote areas on either side of one of the biggest cities anywhere in the path. "Albuquerque is going to be 'ground zero' for the annular and it's the perfect place to see it," says Jayne Aubele from Albuquerque's New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. "The sun will be fairly high in the sky and it happens on the last Saturday of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta." Albuquerque is going to be very busy on eclipse day, but there are plenty of other places to consider, from Shiprock, Aztec Ruins National Monument and Chaco Culture National Historic Park to Santa Fe and Roswell. 

Related: How to build your own solar eclipse viewer (video)

8. Texas

The most populous part of the entire eclipse path, Texas is the final U.S. state where a "ring of fire" will be visible. San Antonio and Corpus Christi both get the peak experience, with Odessa and Midland in the state's west ideal for a more remote experience (with a higher chance of clear skies). In between is Texas Hill Country, 120 square miles of which will also experience totality during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Places that will see both eclipses include Concan, Vanderpool, Bandera, Kerrville and Uvalde. 

Related: 10 best events across the US to celebrate the Oct. 14 annular solar eclipse

Additional resources

For planning trips to see solar eclipses, the interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website is invaluable (and the source for the timings in this article), as are the simulations for the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses on Eclipse 2024 and the beautiful eclipse maps on GreatAmericanEclipse.com. Climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on Eclipsophile.com are equally instructive as are ex-NASA eclipse calculator Fred Espenak's Eclipse Wise and Mr. Eclipse. 

Editor's note: We had previously listed Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park as number 6 but since the time of writing it has been announced that all Navajo Tribal Parks will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. MDT on October 14, 2023, due to Navajo cultural beliefs surrounding the event. This includes Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park and parts of the Tséyi’ Diné Heritage Area in Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Local businesses may also be closed. Please plan your eclipse viewing trip accordingly.

On Saturday, October 14, 2023, a 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse will be visible in the Americas, but only to those who make a plan to see it. 

Unless you live within a narrow path just 118-137 miles wide in the U.S. — which includes Albuquerque and San Antonio, but no other major cities — you'll see just a partial solar eclipse. Stretching from Oregon through Texas in the US, and on to central and South America, the sight of a ring of light around the moon will be visible from a slew of U.S. National Parks and International Dark Sky Parks.

Bryce Canyon in Utah and Mesa Verde in Colorado will both get a good view, but here are 10 other lesser-known beauty spots that will be perfect locations for this rare event.

All times come from timeanddate and are for the 'ring of fire' only. A partial solar eclipse will begin and end about 80 minutes before and after the ring. 

Related: 'Ring of fire' from US national parks: 7 great places to see the annular solar eclipse 2023

The Oregon Dunes

A vast and otherworldly landscape — one of the world's largest coastal sand dunes in the world — awaits you at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area between Florence and Coos Bay in southern Oregon. 

If you want to be as near to the centreline as possible for a perfect 'ring of fire' as low as it gets to the horizon (just 17º to the southeast) head to the Oregon Dunes Day Use Area, which has facilities. It's also the jumping-off point for the Oregon Dunes Loop Trail, a two-mile round-trip out to the beach and back on a hard-packed surface. Know that it's been cloudy here on October 14 about 58% of the time since 2000, according to timeanddate. 

Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

During a solar eclipse, the drop in sunlight begins to become apparent when about 50% of the sun is blocked. Be at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northern California by 8:30 a.m. and you may begin to see increased activity among the hundreds of species of migrating birds that live here. Either way, it's a scenic place to visit, with the 'ring of fire' about 20º up in the southeast. A good place to be for the longest 'ring of fire' and an overlook view would be the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center's Sheepy Ridge Trail. Timeanddate rate the area as cloudy 38% of the time on October 14 since 2000.

Related: Annular solar eclipse October 2023: Plan your trip to see the amazing 'ring of fire' eclipse with these top tips 

Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary

If you're after somewhere very remote with scenic vistas and you're prepared for off-grid travel then head to one of the world's best places for stargazing. Recognized as a Dark Sky Sanctuary — land that has an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights, according to DarkSky — the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-run Massacre Rim (recently renamed the Massacre Rim Dark Sky National Conservation Area) is within the traditional territory of the Northern Paiute. It's about 150 miles north of Reno. Dispersed camping is allowed throughout. The eclipse will be 21º above the southeast horizon and the area is cloudy 30% of the time on October 14, according to timeanddate. 

Lake Powell

Page, Arizona lies just south of the southern limit of the path of totality so the only way to experience a 'ring of fire' from Lake Powell is to take to the water. Although it doesn't go all the way to Rainbow Bridge National Monument — the world's highest natural bridge — a Ring of Fire Eclipse Boat Tour will view the eclipse from Lake Powell. It's included in a Ring of Fire Eclipse Lodge Package, staying at Lake Powell Resort. Or you could take a Ring of Fire Eclipse Houseboat Package from Wahweap or Bullfrog Marinas. There is a 20% chance of clouds in this area, according to timeanddate, and the eclipse will be around 31º above the southeastern horizon. 

Boulder and Scenic Byway 12

 A small town in a remote yet spectacular region, Boulder is just shy of the centerline and well-positioned for exploring All-American Road: Scenic Byway 12. Stretching from Panguitch to Torrey, this 122-mile road passes Red Canyon, Kodachrome Basin State Park, the Hogsback, Tropic Shale, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Escalante Petrified Forest, Anasazi State Park Museum (the latter in Boulder itself) and Capitol Reef National Park. 

Related: 10 best events across the US to celebrate the Oct. 14 annular solar eclipse 

Canyon of the Ancients National Monument

Only the southwest corner of Colorado is visited by the path of annularity, but it crosses some spectacular landscapes. Mesa Verde National Park is sure to be busy for the eclipse, but just south and overlooked by many is Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Packed with kivas, cliff dwellings, shrines, petroglyphs and many other indigenous archaeological sites, it's on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land so dispersed camping is allowed. Don't miss the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum in Dolores.

Petroglyph National Monument

'Ground zero' for this eclipse will be Albuquerque, where the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is being held. It's also one of the easiest cities to fly into. If you find yourself in New Mexico's capital but want somewhere scenic and quieter to watch the eclipse consider Petroglyph National Monument. About eight miles from central Albuquerque, there are four hiking trails and the eclipse will be 36º up in the southeast. This spot is rated as having 25% chance of cloud by timeanddate.  

Stonehenge II

There may be no solar eclipse at the real Stonehenge in England for 370 years, but this replica of the 5,000 years old monument in the Texas Hill Country will get two in six months. On the campus of the Hill Country Arts Foundation since 2010, $20 gets you a parking spot nearby on October 14, 2023, with the eclipse 46° up in the southeast. There's a 57% chance of cloud according to timeanddate. It's also worth knowing that this site is at the crossroads of the two eclipses, so come back on April 8, 2024, and you can experience 4 minutes 25 seconds of totality. 

Uxmal Ancient Maya City

As well as eight states in the US southwest the path of this eclipse also surges across Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Brazil. One irresistible destination is the pyramids of the Uxmal Archaeological Ruins Zone, an ancient Mayan city on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. A little over an hour's drive south of Mérida, the main reason to go is for the pyramids, though they can no longer be climbed. Don't miss Chichén Itzá nearby, though it's just outside the path of this eclipse. The greatest eclipse will occur when the sun is located around 61° above the horizon. Know that Uxmal was cloudy for 90% of the time on October 14 since 2001, according to timeanddate.  

Caño Cristales

Also known as the River of Five Colors and the 'liquid rainbow', Columbia's Caño Cristales (Chrystal Channel) in the Colombian National Park of La Macarena will be at its brilliant best during October. The eclipse will be 58º up in the southwest above the area's reddish river, rapids and waterfalls (the cooler is caused by the macarenia clavigera plant). According to timeanddate the Caño Cristales region has an 80% chance of being cloudy on eclipse day.  

To witness a solar eclipse often takes effort, and on October 14, 2023, anyone in the U.S. who wants to see a 'ring of fire' (rather than a partial solar eclipse) will need to be within a roughly 130 miles- (209 kilometers-) wide path stretching from Oregon to Texas. 

So why not combine it with a road trip? Crossing some of the country's most iconic landscapes, National Parks and Dark Sky Parks, the path of the Oct. annular solar eclipse is something to behold for anyone who loves travel, adventure and exploring the night sky.

Covering most U.S. states within the path of annularity — Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas — here are seven carefully crafted itineraries to take you on an extraordinary journey to see a 'ring of fire.' solar eclipse.

Related: Annular solar eclipse October 2023: Plan your trip to see the amazing 'ring of fire' eclipse with these top tips 

1. An outback eclipse in Oregon

Starting in Portland, spend a week on a scenic drive along the Oregon Coast then dip inland to outback Oregon and adventure capital Bend. On the fabulous coast, be sure to stop for fish and chips in Cannon Beach, cheese at Tillamook and whale-watching from the coast at Depoe Bay. The 'ring of fire' will be visible from a 137-mile stretch starting from here south to Denmark, but this is a famously foggy coast. So a few days before the eclipse head inland at Reedsport to tour Crater Lake National Park — North America's deepest, bluest lake — which is in the path, though the chances of a clear sky here on eclipse day are uncertain (there could even be snow!). 

So instead head down to Klamath Falls either for Eclipse Fest 2023 or to turn off for Lakeview where you can join the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway (a 171-mile route along OR-31 amid arid high desert) to Bend. Good locations for eclipse viewing along the way include Fort Rock Cave State Natural Area (9:18 a.m. for 3 mins 25 secs from 09:18 a.m.) and Summer Lake Hot Springs (9:18 a.m. for 4 mins 25 secs). 

After the eclipse head to Bend, famous for its beer, but surrounded by endless opportunities for outdoor activities — the highlight being hiking at Smith Rock State Park on the way back to Portland. If you have extra days spend them at the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area east of 

2. Stargazing and an eclipse in the Great Basin

Take a one-way rental vehicle in Las Vegas and head north to check out the crimson rock formations Valley of Fire State Park. Then head north on Highway 93 to Ely, home to East Ely Railroad Railroad Museum and Northern Nevada Railway as well as the 30-foot-tall, beehive-shaped stone kilns of Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park. Nearby are several options for a rural 'ring of fire' at 9:24 a.m. including the off-grid Ward Mountain Recreation Area (3 mins 12 secs), the high desert Cave Lake State Park (3 mins 40 secs) and Garnet Hill public recreation area (3 mins 31 secs). However, Great Basin National Park — also a Dark Sky Park with fabulously dark skies — will hold an event in its Astronomy Amphitheater bear the Lehman Caves Visitor Center (9:24 a.m. for 3 mins 48 secs). 

Don't miss the Great Basin Observatory — the first research-grade observatory built in a U.S. National Park and likely open for the eclipse — as well as Lehman Caves, Wheeler Peak Summit Trail and Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest to see trees dating back 4,900 years. Take Highway 93 north to Interstate 80 and head east to Salt Lake City via remote camping under dark skies at The Knolls and stargazing on Antelope Island State Park, another Dark Sky Park. 

Related: 'Ring of fire' from US national parks: 7 great places to see the annular solar eclipse 2023 

3. An epic National Parks eclipse trip

Here's an epic journey from Denver to Las Vegas (or vice versa), intercepting the path of annularity in Utah. Begin with a few days at Rocky Mountain National Park before hitting Colorado National Monument on the way to Moab, Utah. Use this small town to access Arches National Park (you'll need a timed entry ticket), Dead Horse State Park and Canyonlands National Park — all three of them Dark Sky Parks. The latter's Grand View Point Road pokes into the northern edge of the eclipse path, which means beautiful Baily's beads within a 'broken annular' eclipse. 

If you'd rather see the perfect 'ring of fire' then push on to the eclipse-viewing event (book in advance) at the Valley of Goblins Observation Point at Goblin Valley State Park (10:28 a.m. for 3 mins 15 secs). Another option — with a longer 'ring of fire' — is the visitor's center at Capitol Reef National Park (10:27 a.m. for 4 mins 29 secs). As you cross the centreline of the path, any RV park, campsite or lodging in and between Torrey and Boulder is perfect. 

Although both have a shorter 'ring of fire', don't miss Kodachrome Basin State Park (10:28 for 2 mins 32 secs) and the iconic Bryce Canyon National Park (10:27 for 2 mins 39 secs at the Visitor Center) further southwest. Next comes a gawp at the amphitheater of Cedar Breaks National Monument and varied hikes around Zion National Park before driving to Las Vegas, possibly via Valley of Fire State Park and, if you have time to kill before check-in, Red Rock Canyon.

Related: Dark Sky Utah: A complete guide to astro-travel in America's darkest state

4. Northern New Mexico eclipse explorer

Albuquerque is the second-largest city in the path after San Antonio, Texas, but unless you plan to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta it's worth avoiding for eclipse day. A loop north of the city will take you to the hot springs and fumaroles of Valles Caldera National Preserve, Bandelier National Monument's ancient cliff dwellings, and artsy Santa Fe. For a view of Baily's beads on eclipse day head to Ski Santa Fe on the northern edge of the path. 

Two other locations to the southeast stand out for eclipse-viewing if a long 'ring of fire' is your target — tiny Corona (10:36 a.m. for 4 mins 35 secs) and the UFO capital of the world, Roswell (10:38 a.m. for 4 mins 30 secs). Due south of the latter is Carlsbad, another great location for edge effects, and the gateway to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a Dark Sky Park with fabulous stargazing. 

Related: Solar eclipses 2023: When is the next solar eclipse?  

Editor's note: In Sept. 2023, it was announced that all Navajo Tribal Parks will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. MDT on October 14, 2023, due to Navajo cultural beliefs surrounding the event. This includes Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park and parts of the Tséyi’ Diné Heritage Area in Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Local businesses may also be closed. Please plan your eclipse viewing trip accordingly.

Additional resources

For planning trips to see solar eclipses, the interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website is invaluable (and the source for the timings in this article), as are the simulations on Eclipse 2024 and the beautiful eclipse maps on GreatAmericanEclipse.com. Climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on Eclipsophile.com are equally instructive as are ex-NASA eclipse calculator Fred Espenak's Eclipse Wise and Mr. Eclipse.  

Where will you be for America's 'ring of fire'? 

On Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, the second of three central eclipses crosses the U.S. in the eight years between 2017 and 2024. For most onlookers, it will be a partial eclipse, with the moon taking a chunk out of the sun over the course of a few hours. However, if you position yourself within a roughly 125 miles wide path stretching from Oregon through Texas (and on to Central and South America) a rare annular solar eclipse will be visible. 

From selected locations in Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas a bright ring around the moon will be visible for up to 4 minutes 53 seconds. Anyone using solar eclipse glasses can safely view the eclipse from anywhere in the path, but visit one of these dedicated viewing events for expert commentary, telescopes, activities and more: 

Related: Annular solar eclipse 2023: Everything you need to know

1. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico (map)

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 10:34 a.m. MDT, 4 mins 43 secs

A nine-day event that's been held in early October since 1972, it just so happens that the penultimate day of this year's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Oct. 7-15, 2023) coincides with the annular solar eclipse — and it's almost bang on the centerline. There are no special events planned as such, but the spectacle of 500 colorful balloons will attract many to one of the biggest cities in the path of annularity. Crowds of 100,000 are expected — and so are clear skies. The balloons should be grounded by 10:30 a.m., which is cutting it fine for the long 'ring of fire' that begins just minutes later. Tickets are typically $15 per session to spectate. 

2. Eclipse UTOPiA

Location: Four Sisters Ranch, Utopia, Texas (map)

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 11:49 a.m. CDT, 4 mins 50 secs 

As well as being in the 120 square mile quadrant for the 'Great Texas Twoclipse' — where the two eclipse paths of Oct. 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024, cross — the Texan Hit Country town of Utopia sits almost on where the two centerlines cross. First comes a long 'ring of fire', for which Four Sisters Ranch is hosting an intimate campout, also promising unparalleled views and eclectic music. If you have fun then come back less than six months later to experience a long totality at the same location. Tickets to "experience the convergence" sell from $250.  

3. Welcome Home Fest

Location: Quiet Valley Ranch, Kerrville, Texas (map) 

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 10:22 a.m. CDT, 4 minutes 24 seconds

Just south of Kerrville in Texas Hill Country, Quiet Valley Ranch is also firmly in the crossroads of the eclipses. In early April 2024, it will host its annual Kerrville Folk Festival — a fixture of the local music scene for over 50 years — just as a rare totality arrives, re-branding it the KerrEclipse 2024 festival. Before that, it will host the third annual Welcome Home Fest (Oct. 12-15, 2023), a smaller and more intimate version using a smaller stage.  

4. Ring of Fire Fest, Goosenecks State Park

Location: Mexican Hat, Utah (map) 

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 10:29 a.m. MDT, 4 mins 40 secs

Utah's National Parks are world-famous, but Utah State Parks remain something of a hidden gem. On Oct. 14, 2023, this small park on a dramatic bend in the San Juan River will be hosting an event featuring telescopes, solar binoculars, food booths and informational booths, with free solar eclipse glasses provided by the San Juan County Economic Development and Visitor Services. It's also an International Dark Sky Park. If you want to stay overnight there are eight designated campsites along the rim of the canyon. 

Related: Dark Sky Utah: A complete guide to astro-travel in America's darkest state

5. Solar Eclipse Train

Location: Sky Railway, Santa Fe, New Mexico (map) 

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 10:36 a.m. MDT, 2 mins 34 secs

Sky Railway in Santa Fe, New Mexico is offering a 2-3 hour trip from and to Santa Fe Depot that includes a seat, coffee, breakfast pastry, live entertainment — and 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse out of the window. Tickets cost from $259 and upgrades are possible to The Acoma, the original lounge car from the 1937 Super Chief that traveled between Chicago and Los Angeles. The same company also offers The Stargazer package — a trip from Santa Fe to the Galisteo Basin to view the New Mexico night sky. 

6. EclipseFest 2023

Location: Klamath County, Oregon (map) 

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 9:17 a.m. PDT, 4 mins 22 secs

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is sure to be a magnet for eclipse-chasers, but it could be cold up there — and possibly even snowing. At a much lower altitude, yet just 25 miles southeast is Klamath County. Its EclipseFest 2023 multi-day festival (Oct. 12-15, with early bird tickets also including Oct. 10-11) includes camping, food and drink, vendors and artisans across three full days of activities, games, prizes, dancing, tasting and shopping. Tickets cost from $160 for camping and from $250 for RVs.  

7. Ring of Fire Eclipse Festival

Location: Ely, Nevada (map) 

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 9:24 a.m. PDT, 3 mins 33 secs

This small town in eastern Nevada is best known for its proximity to Great Basin National Park, a Dark Sky Park since 2016, and where, on Oct. 14 a 'ring of fire' will be visible for about 3 mins 42 secs. However, there's an argument to stay in Ely because the town's Ring of Fire Eclipse Festival (Oct. 11-16) will include trail rides, a pub crawl, pumpkin chucking, a talk on Nevada's UFO history and — perhaps best of all — the Nevada Northern Railway will take passengers on a special eclipse-viewing ride on a century-old steam locomotive. NASA and San Francisco's Exploratorium will also be live-streaming the event from the Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark. Organizers are also promising a secure area for photographers away from crowds. 

8. 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse glamping weekend retreat

Location: Glamping Canyonlands​, The Needles district, Canyonlands National Park, Monticello, Utah (map)

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 10:34 a.m. MDT, 0 mins 0 seconds (edge effects)

On the northern edge of the path of annularity, this event on a 22-acre glamping resort south of Moab, Utah should intrigue those that have seen a 'ring of fire' before and want to see something new. Just into the remote Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, this three-day private all-inclusive event (Oct. 15-17, 2023) includes a converted school bus bar, a professional chef preparing a starlit dinner, an astronomy tour and cocktails. However, don't overlook the 0 mins 0 secs 'ring of fire'. What it actually means is you'll see a 'broken annular' eclipse around the sun instead of a classical 'ring of fire' during which Baily's beads — usually only seen during a total solar eclipse — will be present fizzing around the moon for a few minutes. It's the ideal warm-up to April 8, 2024. 

9. Solar Eclipse Festival 2023, Hutchings Museum Institute

Location: Hutchings Museum Institute, Lehi, Utah (map) 

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 10:28 a.m. MDT, partial eclipse solar only

Be careful because this one is about 60 miles north of the northern limit of the path of annularity, so what you'll see is not a 'ring of fire,' but an 88% partial solar eclipse. The celestial event will be marked at Hutchings Museum Institute with free eclipse glasses, viewing guides, solar science kits, experiments and activities in partnership with Starnet Libraries and NASA Science — but it's only a 150 miles north of where a 'ring of fire' lasting 4 mins 38 secs will be visible from Sevier, Utah.  

10. Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center

Location: Reno, Nevada (map) 

Time and duration of 'ring of fire': 9:21 a.m. MDT, 85% partial eclipse only

Details are few, but the Fleischmann Planetarium in Reno, Nevada will be staging a public event. However, tempting that might be, it only gets a big partial solar eclipse. For a glimpse of a 'ring of fire', drive 117 miles north of Reno to Rye Patch State Recreation Area. Drive another 50 miles to the center of the path just north of Winnemucca for a 'ring fire' lasting 4 mins 35 secs.

It's impossible to talk about astrotourism without mentioning Utah. 

The Beehive State in the southwest of the U.S. is home to no fewer than 22 national parks, state parks and other beauty spots protected by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Some, like Arches, Canyonlands and Bryce Canyon are world famous not only for their dark skies but for their incredible red rock scapes that make them a magnet for astrophotographers as well as stargazers. 

Even to list every International Dark Sky Park would be to merely scratch the surface because Utah — population 3.3 million (mostly concentrated around Salt Lake City) — has an uncountable amount of other dark locations. Canyons that block light from nearby towns, hotels with observatories on top, remote mountain ranges and scenic stops on quiet highways through vast empty landscapes. 

Related: The ultimate guide to planning epic stargazing road trips in the US southwest 

How to find a dark sky in Utah

Utah is huge and mostly empty, with about 80% of its 3.5 million population living in the 'Wasatch Front' between Logan via Salt Lake City and Provo in the north of the state. 

To best understand Utah as a stargazing destination have a look at DarkSiteFinder.com or any light pollution map. Then scour the recreational maps on the Bureau of Land Management, the National Forests and America's Scenic Byways for out-of-the-way campsites, many of which are as dark as anywhere on the planet. You'll find them to the east, the south and the west of Salt Lake City.  

Astrophotography in Utah

"The landscape is so varied — there are beautiful tall snowy mountains, winding red rock canyons, arches, and everything in between," Bettymaya Foott, an astrophotographer and Director of Engagement at the International Dark-Sky Association told Space.com in an email. 

"The juxtaposition of a beautiful starry sky against a breathtaking landscape makes it pretty hard to take a bad photo." If you want to avoid the crowds, check out some of the lesser-visited Utah State Parks. "Goosenecks State Park is incredibly beautiful, and you don't have to hike to get to an amazing viewpoint and set up all your heavy equipment," says Foott. "Goblin Valley State Park also has amazing hoodoos to play around with infinite compositions and you feel like you're on another planet." 

If you're looking to make a trip to a dark sky park and are looking for a telescope or binoculars to help your observations our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next skywatching sight on your own. 

Utah's best International Dark Sky Parks

If you're after car parking, facilities and accommodation — from camping to luxury hotels — then you'll be happiest in a Dark Sky Park, which includes National Parks, State Parks and National Monuments. Most also offer stargazing programs in spring and summer conducted by Dark Sky Rangers (check each location's official website for details). Each park is rated here by Go Astronomy for its darkness using the Bortle scale — a measure of the quality of the night sky for a particular location — with 1 being "Excellent dark‑sky site" and 2 being a "truly dark site". 

Related: 21 amazing dark sky reserves around the world 

Southeast Utah

Northeast of Las Vegas on Interstate 15 brings you to Zion National Park, with Bryce Canyon National Park and Kodachrome Basin State Park to the east and Cedar Breaks National Monument to the north forming a triangle of stargazing destinations. 

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Bortle: 2

About 250 miles south of Salt Lake City, Cedar Breaks National Monument has locations that double as places to gawp at both the incredible amphitheater of eroding arches, towers and hoodoos (irregular columns of rock), and the night sky. As a bonus it's all at 10,000 feet, so offers crystal-clear conditions under clear skies (wrap up warm!). Very close is the small ski resort of Brian Head. It holds weekly star parties in summer.  

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bortle: 2

Home to the oldest astronomy program in the National Park Service, but an International Dark Sky Park only since 2019, Bryce Canyon National Park is a small park on a ridge overlooking a natural amphitheater of hoodoos and spire-shaped red rock formations. Visit Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point for exquisite views both day and night thanks to the park's high elevation of about 9,000 feet (wrap up warm at night!). The excellent visitor's center at the entrance hosts astronomy lectures, many of which include telescopes lined up outside for deep-sky viewing. There's also an annual astronomy festival.  

Kodachrome Basin State Park

Bortle: 2

Just 30 minutes from Bryce Canyon, but far less visited, the Kodachrome Basin State Park is a region of dozens of hoodoos and multicolored spire-like sedimentary pipes that make it a great alternative to its more famous neighbor. With fewer visitors, it's the perfect place for astrophotography.  

Southcentral Utah (darkest zone)

A great way to see the darkest areas of Utah, as well as some of its unmissable parks, is to travel the Highway 12 Scenic Byway. It takes in Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Capitol Reef National Park, with Goblin State Park conveniently placed if you plan to travel on to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.  

Capitol Reef National Park

Bortle: 1

Another often overlooked stop, Capitol Reef National Park is conveniently placed if you're driving to Arches and Canyonlands from Salt Lake City. Its slot canyons, domes and red rock cliffs have plenty of places to go stargazing, but as well as being an attraction itself, the nearby town of Torrey is also a Dark Sky Community.  

Goblin State Park

Bortle: 1

On the western edge of Canyonlands, this extraordinary — and very remote — valley best visited on an epic trip between Moab and Bryce Canyon is all about its strange and colorful mushroom-shaped sandstone pinnacles, known as goblins. The campground at Goblin State Park has 14 sites for vehicles, 10 for tents and two yurts.   

Eastern Utah

This is the most frequently visited area of Utah for anyone after dark skies and red rocks. It makes sense to stay in gateway town Moab though there are plenty of places to camp in and around Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.  

Arches National Park

Bortle: 2

The most famous and most visited destination in Utah, Arches National Park has become a victim of its own success. April 2023 sees the start of timed entry tickets to reduce traffic, though you can easily come and go at night. It's not a large park, but there are some distinct areas to explore at night. Delicate Arch is a 30-minute hike from a dedicated car park, while The Windows area has several arches to explore in a small area. Balanced Rock is right by the main road through the park. The super-slim Landscape Arch is accessed via Devil's Garden Trail, which is also where you'll find the Devil's Garden campground, which can be booked in advance. 

Canyonlands National Park

Bortle: 1

Canyonlands National Park's vast region of 527 square miles covers two distinct areas — the high-elevation Islands In The Sky area accessed north of Moab and The Needles area of spires, pinnacles and canyons below that's visited from a separate entrance south of Moab. The former gives sweeping views over the Green and Colorado rivers and also includes Mesa Arch, an iconic sight often captured with the Milky Way in the background (come in sporing for that) and at sunrise.  

Dead Horse Point State Park

Bortle: 1

The first Utah State Park to achieve IDA certification, Dead Horse Point State Park, adjacent to Canyonlands National Park is often bypassed. Don't do that because the views of a bend in the Colorado River from 2,000 feet above the south-facing Dead Horse Point Overlook are unbeatable. The Rim Trail offers incredible vantage points while conveniently positioned is the Kayenta Campground, which can be booked in advance, and has picnic tables, fire rings, tent pads and electrical hookups. The visitors center close by conducts regular stargazing sessions. 

Southeastern Utah

This part of Utah is most often visited on an itinerary that takes in the dozens of National Parks and beauty spots of the Four Corners region of the southwest U.S. which includes Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. 

Natural Bridges National Monument

Bortle: 2

The first International Dark Sky Park in the world in 2009, Natural Bridges National Monument is as remote as it gets — just check a light pollution map for proof of that. There's a first-come-first-served served campsite and its three major arches — Kachina, Owachomo and Sipapu — can be visited day or night from close to a circular loop. Park rangers give interpretive discussions on astronomy in spring and summer. 

Goosenecks State Park

Bortle: 1

Conveniently placed if you're traveling from Natural Bridges National Monument to Monument Valley Tribal Park on the Utah-Arizona border, Goosenecks State Park, the high desert close to Mexican Hat has an incredible view looking north over an entrenched meander (a 'gooseneck') in the San Juan River 1,000 feet below. It's a fabulous place for stargazing and astrophotography. It's been an International Dark Sky Park since 2021.  

Additional information

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is working to preserve the night sky for its cultural and scientific value and to do that it has worked with countries to create dark sky reserves and parks around the world. 

For an area to be certified as a Dark Sky Reserve it must meet the minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness and go through a rigorous application process with the IDA. You can learn more about their processes on the IDA's official website.

For more information and guidance for a Utah-based stargazing trip, the tourism website VisitUtah.com has a wealth of useful resources. This article was written with travel supported by VisitUtah.com.

Light pollution is rampant and increasing. However, despite North America being one of the most light-polluted places on the planet, there is a definite east-west divide. 

In fact, go explore the Colorado Plateau — a region of mesas, tablelands, valleys and canyons that covers Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico — and you'll find the ideal combination of low population density and very high elevation. Add iconic red rock formations and dozens of International Dark-Sky Association and there are few better places for a stargazing or astrophotography safari. 

However, you need to carefully plan a night sky road trip, both in terms of route and timing, to get the best of what this enchanting area offers. In this article, we will guide you step-by-step on planning the most unforgettable stargazing road trips across the region's stunning landscapes. With a rare annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023, visible from eight U.S. states across the, there's never been a better time to plan a trip across the U.S. Southwest. 

Related: 21 amazing dark sky reserves around the world

Finding dark places

You could visit this region without ever setting foot in a National Park or State Park, a huge number of which have protected night skies. After all, many campgrounds overseen by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are just as dark as anywhere else. You can also just check a light pollution map. 

However, if you want to book campgrounds with facilities or lodging in advance, take advantage of organized stargazing activities by park ranger or you're after some iconic nightscape astrophotography these dark sky destinations are not to be missed. Some of the most famous in this region include Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Bryce Canyon National Park and Arches National Park in Utah, but that's just scratching the surface. 

If you're looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the night sky, our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals now can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next skywatching sight on your own. 

Observatories and organized stargazing

The Colorado Plateau has been a mecca for astronomers and stargazers for decades. So it's no wonder that some of the most famous observatories in the US are situated here. They include Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, the Very Large Array in Socorro, New Mexico and Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Although most of these institutions have visitor's centers and organize observing nights for the public, you'll want to plan that in advance.

Also consider visiting smaller observatories and those committed to outreach, such as Stellar Vista Observatory in Kanab, Utah, Smokey Jack Observatory in Westcliffe, Colorado and Gunnison Valley Observatory in Colorado. 

Lastly, don't overlook organized astronomy and stargazing tours offered by private companies, which are often run by passionate individuals keen to share their wonderful night skies with visitors. Great examples include RedRock Astronomy in Moab, Utah, Dark Ranger Telescope Tours near Bryce Canyon, Utah and Stellar Adventures in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona, but there are many more.  

Stargazing road trips: Suggested itineraries

Here are a few suggested road trip routes that make geographical sense. All visit International Dark Sky Parks, observatories and other attractions with a cosmic angle. You can use motels and lodging (the latter often in wood cabins in national parks), but consider renting an RV or camping to get the full starry sky experience. 

Wherever you choose, be sure to leave about 10 days before the new moon so you experience true dark skies (double-check that you'll avoid the week before the full moon when night skies are bleached).  

1. Sin City to the Mile High City

A one-way car or RV rental on a trip between Sin City and Mile High City is best done slowly such is the wealth of dark skies. 

From Las Vegas the first stop is Zion National Park followed by the hoodoos of busy Bryce Canyon National Park (don't miss the excellent astronomy program on Fridays and Saturdays in summer) and the spires of the empty Kodachrome Basin State Park. Now comes the remote part, with the vast wilderness of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument available to the east as Scenic Byway 12 takes you to Capitol Reef National Park (and its night sky program), perhaps via the super-dark Calf Creek Campground. Next comes the other-worldly Goblin Valley State Park before you hit Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. 

If you're in a rush to get to Denver then take Interstate 70 and stop off only at Colorado National Monument. If you have more time head into the mountains for Black Canyon of the Gunnison, being sure to book in advance for the public Gunnison Valley Observatory. A final option on the way back to Denver is Smokey Jack Observatory in Westcliffe. 

2. Trail of the Ancients and archaeoastronomy

When you stargaze from the ancient landscapes of the Four Corners region you're standing on the shoulders of giants, with the Ancestral Puebloans' knowledge of how the night sky changes astounding. 

You can see ancient buildings aligned with the stars and much more on the Trail of the Ancients tour, whose core is a 116-mile trail along Scenic Byways that takes in the six prehistoric villages of Hovenweep National Monument and the cliff-dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park, both of which are International Dark Sky Parks. However, with a few more days you can also visit Chaco Culture National Park, home to kivas, a pictograph thought to depict the supernova that caused the Crab Nebula and a petroglyph that could be an eclipse … as well as a night sky program. Very close to the Trail of the Ancients are the dark skies of Natural Bridges National Monument and Goosenecks State Park while Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park — though not a designated dark sky park — will be hard to resist.  

3. Skiing and stargazing in Utah

Between November and April, Utah has some of the best skiing and stargazing in the world, so why not combine the two?

A great place to base yourself is in the Ogden Valley northwest of Salt Lake City. Here, shielded by the Wasatch Mountains is North Fork Park, an International Dark Sky Park, next to Ogden Nordic Ski Resort. Close by is the low-key and beautiful Powder Mountain — one of the largest ski areas in North America — while to the south is Huntsville, home to Compass Rose Lodge, a boutique hotel with the impressive Huntsville Astronomic and Lunar Observatory (HALO) on top (Starwalk Tours are available). 

After you've also skied Snowbasin just to the south, and possibly Sundance, drive four hours southeast to take advantage of cool temperatures and clear skies over Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. 

For more information and guidance for a Utah-based stargazing trip, the tourism website VisitUtah.com has a wealth of useful resources.

4. The Great Western Starry Way

Promoted by the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative, this epic stargazing journey travels Glacier National Park in Montana to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, stopping off everywhere from Yellowstone National Park and the adjacent Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming, Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho before visiting a mess of national parks across Utah and Arizona. 

5. Tucson to Albuquerque

This long journey takes in some of the best-known and least-known stargazing destinations in the U.S. Southwest, encountering some of the darkest skies in the world. 

After attending some observing programs at Kitt Peak National Observatory and SkyNights at the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter near Tucson, head north for dark skies at Oracle State Park or Tonto National Monument in the Sonoran Desert before swerving Phenix to aim for one of the International Dark Sky Communities in the red rock villages of Cottonwood, Oak Creek or Sedona (the latter is home to Sedona Star Gazing tours).

Next comes Flagstaff, Dark Sky City and home to the fabulous Lowell Observatory. After a day treading its Planet Walk, Galaxy Walk and checking out the Pluto Discovery Telescope return after dark to use telescopes at its excellent Giovale Open Deck Observatory. The next stop is the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park for a few nights (there's a star party each June). Head back to Flagstaff and on to Meteor Crater — the best-preserved meteorite impact site on the planet — before staying overnight at Petrified Forest National Park. 

Related: 10 Earth impact craters you must see

Consider a daytime visit to the Very Large Array short of Magdelena before cutting in to stay a night or two at the super-remote Cosmic Campground in the Gila National Forest, a precious International Dark Sky Sanctuary with hard-surface observing pads for telescopes and no artificial light for nearly 25 miles in any direction. From here return to Tucson via Mount Graham International Observatory (book a weekend tour in advance, offered mid-May through October). For one last look at the stars visit Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arizona, before returning to Tucson with stars in your eyes.  

Many tools, machines and facilities within your home have their origins in research undertaken by NASA over the past 50 years. 

Technology originally designed to aid space exploration and land a human on the moon — an endeavor instigated by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961, where he announced a series of exciting new missions including the groundbreaking Apollo program, has been successfully spun off to create some of the staple day-to-day products we now take for granted. 

From golf balls to gamepads and computers to crash helmets, NASA's technology has been picked up and adapted by specialist companies who have brought it into the public commercial sphere, delivering new and revolutionary products that have transformed how people live their lives and interact with their environment. 

Throughout this article, we delve deep into the NASA archives to discover the innovative research and inventions that made ten of the most common everyday household products possible. 

Related: Who invented the telescope? 

Water filters

Although basic water filters had existed since the mid-1950s, it wasn't until NASA pumped resources into its research for the Apollo program in 1963 that modern filtration systems began to emerge. NASA led research into this area as large quantities of water would need to be kept uncontaminated for long periods of time in extreme conditions. 

To achieve this goal, NASA developed a system that worked by utilizing charcoal's ability to absorb pollutants and particulate matter present within the water when specially treated. This treatment — essentially an oxidization process that opens up millions of tiny pores between carbon atoms in the charcoal — amplified the absorbability of the charcoal, which with its large, porous surface area provided many sites for pollutants to chemically bond with it through attraction. This left the resultant water clear of impurities. 

Microprocessors

NASA technically didn't invent the integrated circuit, credited to electrical engineer Jack Kilby in 1958, but instead invented newer and more advanced variants of it. Indeed, it's easily argued that NASA's Apollo program kickstarted the microchip revolution, with the administration buying more than 60 percent of America's integrated circuits throughout the whole of the 1960s, deliberately allowing the industry to acclimatize itself to mass production and stabilizing it while few other markets existed. 

One of the first high-profile usages of microchip technology was in the Apollo Guidance Computer with its DSKY interface, which was used to provide onboard computation and control for navigation, as well as control over the Command Module and Lunar Module. Today, integrated circuits can be found in almost every area of life, from mobile phones and personal computers to microwaves and calculators, mainly thanks to the cheap processing and manufacture of microchips worldwide. 

Crash helmets

In the 1970s NASA invented temper foam, a shock-absorbing material designed to improve the safety of aircraft cushions. The foam was fitted to the helmets and seats of its Apollo spacecraft, a lining that would help mitigate some of the extreme forces astronauts would be subjected to. 

Temper foam is a polyurethane treated with additional chemicals that has both high viscosity and density, properties ideal for absorbing significant impacts and resisting energy flow. The foam is viscoelastic and temperature sensitive, meaning that when pressed against a heat source, such as a human. it molds to that shape, aiding fit and reducing unwanted gaps. 

Temper foam was released into the public sphere in the early 1980s, soon being picked up and utilized in medical equipment such as temper foam mattresses and sports equipment such as American football helmets and cycle helmets

Cordless tools

After Kennedy announced the Apollo program in 1961, a deluge of research commenced into the practicalities of human spaceflight. One of the most notable breakthroughs was NASA's collaborative invention with tool company Black+Decker into a cordless zero-impact wrench, a tool that could spin bolts in zero gravity without spinning the astronaut. From this, the research program developed cordless tools for a variety of purposes, including a cordless rotary hammer drill that could be used for extracting rock from the moon's surface. 

These tools worked by exploiting the emerging technology of smallscale rechargeable electrochemical cells that could be grouped to form a battery pack capable of delivering enough power to generate the requisite amount of torque necessary to bore into the moon's surface crust. Today this technology has become common and widespread, with the majority of tools operating off a cordless battery pack that can be recharged between uses. Interestingly, it was directly from the research done by NASA in the 1960s that Black+Decker developed the cordless 'Dust Buster' handheld vacuum cleaner.

Scratch resistant lenses

After NASA realized that plastics were a lot better at absorbing ultraviolet light and didn't shatter if dropped, space visors were produced using plastic. However, uncoated plastic easily scratched, and considering the amount of dust and rubble in a space environment, it was determined scratchproof lenses and coatings needed to be developed. 

Due to NASA's research, space visors are now coated with diamondlike carbon coatings that are applied in thin films to the outside of the visor and toughen it massively. An offshoot of this technology is now available on Ray-Ban sunglasses, while Foster Grant historically bought the license to replicate early coatings to apply to its entire range. 

Household smoke detector

 The smoke detector, while invented by Francis Robbins Upton in 1890, wasn't adjustable until NASA invented a model with variable sensitivity in 1973. The units were installed on Skylab to detect toxic vapors on board. 

They worked through ionization, a process that involves using a small quantity of the radioactive isotope americium-241 to ionize oxygen and nitrogen atoms in a detector's embedded air chamber, which itself is topped and bottomed with two metal plates attached to the battery. While ionization occurs, the freed electrons are attracted to the plate with a positive voltage plate and the electronless atoms to the negative voltage plate, creating an electric current. When smoke particles from a fire enter the air chamber, they disrupt the current as they attach to the ions and neutralize them. The smoke detector senses the drop in current and sets off the alarm.

Satellite television

The first satellite capable of relaying TV signals was Telstar 1. Launched in 1962, it was a joint project to develop an experimental satellite communications system over the Atlantic Ocean. The satellite was built by Bell Laboratories in partnership with NASA. 

The satellite worked by utilizing a transponder to relay data. It received microwave signals through an omnidirectional array of small antennae before upscaling and amplifying the signal's frequency in a traveling-wave tube and retransmitting to the ground. NASA continued to develop this technology, producing more advanced systems to reduce noise and errors in transmitted signals, leading to the ability to transmit high-definition video and audio.

Shoe insoles

One of the most notable inventions NASA included in its spacesuits was its special 3D 'spacer' material in the boots for cushioning and ventilation. Used to give astronauts better control, agility and longevity while on their feet, the lunar boot was an overshoe that slipped on over the integral pressure boot of the spacesuit. 

The outer layer was made from metal-woven fabric, except for the ribbed silicone rubber sole that provided extra springiness and comfort while moonwalking. The tongue area was made from Teflon-coated glass-fiber cloth, while the inner layers were made from this, followed by 25 alternating layers of Kapton film to form an efficient, lightweight thermal insulation. From this, shoe manufacturers created a series of lightweight, warm and springy running shoes and trainers that are now on sale worldwide in high-street shops.

Modern golf ball dimples

As part of the Space Shuttle program, NASA researched maximizing the drag resistance of its new launch system's surfaces, especially for the external fuel tank. The special dimpled surface applied to the tank allowed NASA to hit a more optimum lift-to-drag ratio, getting more distance and stability out of its launch. 

After being released into the public sphere, this aerodynamic coating was studied by the Wilson Sporting Goods Company. Its engineers learned that by applying dimples to the surface of a golf ball, the ball could glide more smoothly with less aerodynamic drag. With 3D computer graphic software, the Wilson engineers were able to predict the progress made for the new golf ball and designed one with medium-sized dimples that created both high lift and increased gliding potential. Today, all golf balls utilize this dimpled coating.

Joysticks

As with smoke detectors, joysticks already existed before NASA picked up the technology, but they were unrecognizable from the products we see today. Indeed, it was only through NASA's work on joystick technology as a control mechanism for its Apollo lunar rover, which would be used in the last three Apollo missions to the moon, that we have the digital joystick and thumbstick technology we see in cars, planes and video game control pads. 

The lunar rover's controller was a T-shaped joystick and worked through a series of motors — four for driving and two for steering. Moving the stick forward powered the rover forward, left and right turned the vehicle left or right and pulling backward activated the brakes. Activating a switch on the joystick before pulling back would put the lunar rover into reverse while pulling the handle all the way back activated a parking brake.

DC’s relationship with the world of video games has always been a bit odd, with a strong focus on renowned characters such as Batman and Superman and little else for other big heroes and villains from their long history of astounding comic books. That being said, some of the best DC games of all time dared to explore the brand’s wide canvas, and there’s a handful worth highlighting.

Of course, many DC video game releases have been nearly as harmful to the brand as kryptonite is to Superman. So, it was our sacred duty to wade through the middling and downright bad titles to return from the Phantom Zone with something worth playing for more than a few minutes. That said, below is our list of the top ten best DC games of all time and it features more than a couple of surprises that will surely cause some discussion.

Need more Superman and Batman in your life? Then check out our guide to the DC movies, ranked worst to best. And if you’re more of a Marvel diehard, you can explore our guide to the best Marvel games of all time and our rundown of the Marvel movies, ranked worst to best.

10. The Death and Return of Superman

• Platforms: Super NES, SEGA Genesis
• Developers: Blizzard Entertainment

In at number 10 we have a bit of an offbeat pick. When we look at retro DC video games, almost everything is either Batman adaptations or middling takes on classic Superman. Instead, we recommend playing through The Death and Return of Superman first. As veteran comic book fans might have guessed, it’s based on the Death of Superman storyline, so it’s 100% a wild ride despite the hardware limitations of 1994.

No high-speed flying in this one, as it was a simple beat ‘em up in the vein of classics such as Streets of Rage. That may not sound exciting for the Superman IP, but the result was rather good, actually. And, of course, playing as lesser-known characters important to this storyline was a big win back in the day. Even now, this game feels like one big anomaly worth studying at the very least.

9. Superman: Shadow of Apokolips

• Platforms: PS2, GameCube
• Developer: Infogrames Sheffield House

This spot goes to another overlooked Superman title: 2002’s Shadow of Apokolips, which was limited to PS2 and GameCube. The cel-shaded graphics, which reflect the look and feel of Superman: The Animated Series, are enticing enough on their own, but they also got the entire Animated Series main voice cast back for a much-needed win after the disaster that was 1999’s Superman 64.

The overly simplistic episodic structure might turn some players off, but adapting the experience of being Superman into video games was never an easy task because of the hardware limitations, and Shadow of Apokolips did something quite interesting and in the vein of the Spider-Man titles from that same era. Yes, it could’ve been better, but the scale, gameplay, and presentation hit their targets with style.

8. Gotham City Impostors

• Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
• Developer: Monolith Productions

The second “wait what?” pick of our list is Gotham City Impostors, a now-defunct online free-to-play FPS (first person shooter) that ran for a few years, starting in early 2012. It came from Monolith Productions, who are now preparing their return to the DC universe with an open-world Wonder Woman game. Basically, it was Warner Bros. Games’ answer to Team Fortress 2 and other class-based shooters, and its charm and unique take on the Batman IP made it worth playing on and off.

Gotham City Impostors’ biggest problem was a lackluster marketing campaign and the lack of some basic quality-of-life elements that could’ve helped it retain an audience for a longer period of time. Frankly, it was better than many premium FPS that were hot at the time, but perhaps it was too weird for such a crowded market. We honestly loved the idea of amateur Batman and Joker fanboys shooting each other in the face and using gadgets straight out of the Adam West T.V. series and the wackiest Batman comic books.

7. Lego DC Super-Villains

• Platforms: PC, macOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Traveller’s Tales

If you’ve burned through the Lego Batman titles (which are great, by the way), then Lego DC Super-Villains is the next stop we’d recommend. All the fun from the other Lego games is here, but applied to DC’s villainous side. Thankfully, it’s not all about the Joker and Harley Quinn. In fact, Lego DC Super-Villains goes really wild with the lore and its strangest characters. There are plenty of unlockable characters such as Scarecrow, Penguin, Ra’s al Ghul, Deadshot, Gorilla Grodd, and many more (270 characters in fact, including all DLC packs).

A customized character depending on the player’s choice was also incorporated into the story, which deals with the most famous villains of the DC universe reluctantly taking on the role of Earth’s protectors after the disappearance of the Justice League. Yup, that’s a pretty interesting premise on its own, and the game itself doesn’t disappoint.

6. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

• Platforms: PC, macOS, iOS, Android, PS3/Vita, Xbox 360, Wii (U), Nintendo 3/DS
• Developer: Traveller’s Tales, TT Fusion

You can rarely go wrong with Lego video games, especially when they work with such fun properties, and Batman was no exception. There are three of these, but we think the second entry is by far the strongest. As the name suggests, more DC heroes and villains were introduced in the second one, but the focus remained on Gotham’s most famous.

There’s a heavy emphasis on exploration and puzzle solving, which makes it one of the best Lego games for casual, chill play (not that any of them are stressful). Moreover, it was the first Lego game by Traveller’s Tales to feature spoken dialogue and an open world, something that would later spread to other Lego adaptations of big IPs.

5. Batman: The Enemy Within

• Platforms: PC, macOS, iOS, Android, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Telltale Games

The Enemy Within was Telltale Games’ second go at the Batman IP after a first season that was just okay. Their signature point-and-click storytelling reached the heights the developer is known for with a bolder sequel that introduced the Joker in an unexpected way.

Much like its predecessor, Batman: The Enemy Within isn’t a good fit for players looking for relentless action, but most comic book readers and fans of point-and-click adventure games with a good dose of detective work should love this one. It’s not often that Batman is allowed to really shine as the world’s greatest detective, and this story’s twists and turns are well worth experiencing either alone or with some online friends (the “crowd play” feature is fantastic).

4. DC Universe Online

• Platforms: PC, PS3/4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Dimensional Ink Games

DC Universe Online has been a fascinating MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) phenomenon for more than 10 years now. Like many other games of the same genre, it fell flat on its face at launch and shifted to a free-to-play model shortly afterwards, something that impacted its early post-launch development plans. However, it quickly regained its footing and has stayed healthy and alive to this day.

In DC Universe Online, players create original characters based on traditional superhero and supervillain archetypes before going out into the world and interacting with several iconic heroes and villains. The core game presents Brainiac as the big bad, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The world is mainly a public space, but raid instances and endgame activities common to the genre are abundant as well. Seasonal events and optional packs of missions and storylines have been regularly added to the game over the years too, so there’s plenty of DC goodness to chew on with this one.

3. The Wolf Among Us

• Platforms: PC, macOS, iOS, Android, PS3/4/Vita, Xbox 360/One
• Developer: Telltale Games

Many lists of the best DC games don’t even consider The Wolf Among Us, but Vertigo belongs to DC Comics, so this adaptation of Bill Willingham’s Fable comic book series 100% qualifies as a DC game. And, once again, Telltale Games delivered a big hit full of twists and a game that is perfectly approachable by anyone, fan of the source material or not.

The Wolf Among Us has been regarded as one of Telltale’s finest titles since its debut in 2013, and we’re finally getting a sequel this year if there are no further delays. The story follows Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of Fabletown, a clandestine community in 1980s New York City that houses many characters from fairy tales and folklore. He must investigate a series of grisly murders that could threaten the entirety of Fabletown. Without spoiling anything, the ending of the first episode alone will hook you in.

2. Injustice: Gods Among Us

• Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, PS3/4/Vita, Xbox 360, Wii U
• Developer: NetherRealm Studios

After the disappointment that was Mortal Kombat vs. DC (2008), Injustice felt like the correct modern fighting game take on DC’s biggest IPs. Injustice took the essentials from Mortal Kombat’s DNA, but NetherRealm was smart enough to make it outgrow their signature game series and allow it to become its own thing.

The powers of each superhero and villain are perfectly represented; the battles feel huge and dynamic despite the strict 2D gameplay. Plus, the story is so good that it shaped much of DC Comics’ output in the following years.

Injustice 2, which arrived a few years later and packs much more impressive tech, felt a bit uninspired and missed the mark with its story campaign. Yet, DC fans will surely appreciate the deeper cuts into the lore and its more ambitious roster of characters.

1. Batman: Arkham series

• Platforms: PC, macOS, PS3/4, Xbox 360/One, Wii U
• Developers: Rocksteady Studios, WB Games Montréal, Splash Damage

It’s hard to deny the Batman: Arkham series is the finest DC can offer when it comes to gaming. From the production values to the overall game design and ambition of each entry, the four “Arkhamverse” entries soar above the competition and could even be considered the best games based on a comic book IP ever – there’s definitely enough greatness in them to make a compelling case. Fans of the series will also be delighted to hear that there will be another game added to the series in 2024 (hopefully) titled Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Even if you’re not a big action-adventure game fanatic, we highly recommend not skipping these. The atmosphere and presentation alone are fantastic, but the writing and moment-to-moment gameplay (combat, stealth, and much more) are excellent as well. Each game hits the ground running and doesn’t slow down until the credits roll. If you do get into them, please don’t skip WB Games Montréal’s Arkham Origins, which has been terribly underrated for many years and packs the tightest script of them all.

For more gaming content, check out our guides to the best space exploration games or maybe the all-spooky best space horror games list.

It turns out the sky is not the limit when it comes to a good old-fashioned practical joke.

With April Fools' Day 2026 upon us, we're exploring some of the best pranks carried out in space, from a forbidden sandwich to a gorilla at large on the International Space Station (ISS).

These pranks show the lighter side of space exploration.

Related: Scientist admits 'space telescope' photo is actually chorizo in tasty Twitter prank

A smuggled sandwich

One of the earliest practical jokes carried out in space involved a contraband sandwich.

On Mar. 23, 1964, during NASA's first crewed Gemini flight, Gemini III, pilot John Young produced a smuggled corned beef sandwich from his spacesuit pocket shortly after launch.

He offered fellow astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom, mission commander, some, but soon realized it probably wasn't the best snack for the flight. The transcript from the mission says it all.

C = Command pilot (Gus Grissom)

P = Pilot (John Young)

In an interview with Life Magazine Young explained that "Wally Schirra had a corned-beef sandwich made up at a restaurant at Cocoa Beach a couple of days before I hid it in a pocket of my spacesuit".

Young explained that Gus "had been bored by the official menus we'd practiced in training and it seemed like a fun idea at the time."

But in reality, a several-day-old corned beef sandwich probably wasn't the best snack to smuggle aboard.

"I hadn't counted on the pungent odor in a closed cabin," Young told Life Magazine.

Unexpected delivery

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson pulled off an impressive prank on the ISS on Feb. 13, 2017.

Whitson packed herself into a cargo bag, enlisting the help of NASA's Shane Kimbrough and ESA's Thomas Pesquet to surprise their Russian crewmates, Andrei Borisenko, Sergey Ryzhikov and Oleg Novitskiy.

"They were quite surprised when I popped out!" Whitson wrote in post on X (formerly Twitter).

Pesquet also tried to squeeze into the cargo back, but unfortunately, it didn't quite work out.

"I tried ... I but I didn't fit!" Pesquet wrote on X.

Gorilla on the loose

Astronaut Scott Kelly is responsible for one of the most outlandish pranks in space when he dressed in a gorilla suit and chased his fellow Expedition 46 crewmate, ESA astronaut Tim Peake, around the International Space Station.

"Needed a little humor to lighten up a #YearInSpace," Kelly wrote on X on Feb. 23, 2016. "Go big, or go home. I think I'll do both. #SpaceApe.

Now, where does one get hold of a gorilla suit while in space?

According to NASA, Scott's twin brother, astronaut Mark Kelly, arranged for the delivery of the costume to the ISS to surprise Scott for his birthday (Feb. 21), during his year-long mission.

Unauthorized spacewalk

If you're going to pull off a prank in space, do it in style, while wearing a pair of cool shades.

In 2010, NASA astronaut Timothy Creamer, Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov beamed a snapshot of themselves floating in space back to Mission Control for an April Fool's Day prank.

"You have a real problem, but you know it's outside our capability to help you," astronaut Shannon Lucid radioed the station crew, laughing all the way.

Though the astronauts reassured Mission Control, claiming they were wearing sunscreen and eye protection (the sunglasses) and were securely tethered so as not to float away.

"We wanted to welcome you guys to April, and hopefully we brought you guys some smiles and not a lot of nervousness," station astronaut Timothy "T.J." Creamer of NASA told Mission Control.

"You brought a lot of laughs, that's for sure," Lucid replied.

Dinner is served

In 1973, Mission Control was left rather perplexed when a female voice was transmitted from the Skylab space station to Mission Control, 10 years before the first female astronaut, Sally Ride, made the trip into space in 1983.

The culprit was a well-planned prank that NASA astronaut Owen Garriott came up with two or three months before he embarked on the Skylab 3 mission. He made a recording of his wife, Helen Garriott, speaking as if she'd just arrived at Skylab for a visit, bringing the astronauts a nice home-cooked meal, according to Owen Garriott's account during an interview on the Kennedy Space Center Complex's YouTube channel.

Garriott had enlisted a few members of the Mission Control team to play along with the prank, including former NASA astronaut Bob Crippen.

Then Garriott proceeded to transmit his wife's message down to Mission Control using their radio channel, Helen was heard saying, "I just came up to bring the boys a home-cooked meal."

According to Garriott, it took everyone who wasn't in on the prank by surprise. The team on the ground never figured out what they had done or how they had managed to pull it off. 20 years after the prank, Garriott asked some of the ground controllers who were still with NASA, "did you know what happened then"? They replied, "No, we never did figure that out."

Eventually, Garriout came clean and told the ground control staff how he'd pulled off the trick, 20 years after it happened.

"I always thought that was an interesting gotcha", Garriot said.

Just popped by to say hello

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield welcomed a rather peculiar visitor to the ISS on April Fool's Day in 2013.

Hadfield's pranking campaign lasted seven hours, over which he slowly revealed his elaborate April Fool's Day joke on X.

"The view from where we fly the Canadarm2, with some orbital debris off in the distance," Hadfield wrote on X.

He posted a picture alongside the post showing him posing with a flying saucer-like object off in the distance.

His second photo is a little clearer, showing the UFO placed high above the Earth and on its way toward the space station.

"Orbital debris seems to be on a course moving a bit faster than ISS," Hadfield wrote. "I'll try to take more pictures if it swings by."

The Canadian astronaut then posted a photo of the flying saucer off in the distance with the orbiting laboratory's robotic arm in the foreground four hours after his initial post.

"Wow, what a huge piece of debris! Maybe I can grab it with the Canadarm2…," Hadfield continued.

Quickly after that, Hadfield wrote: "The object appears to be coming closer to the Station. I think it might be trying to board us!"

Hadfield then posted a photo of himself holding a small green alien away from him with both hands."I don't know what it is or what it wants, but it keeps repeating 'Sloof Lirpa' over and over," Hadfield wrote. "Alert the press." ("Sloof Lirpa" is actually "April Fools" spelled backward.)

Well played, Hadfield, well played.

On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will be visible in parts of the Americas, and some of the best places to view it will be in the scenic U.S. Southwest, including many national parks.

Beginning in Oregon at 9:13 a.m. PDT and ending in Texas at 12:03 p.m. CDT, the path of the solar eclipse will cross over a dozen U.S. national parks, national monuments and other beautiful spots, including Oregon's Crater Lake, Utah's Bryce Canyon and Arizona's Monument Valley. 

With low humidity and historically good chances of clear skies in these locations, this spectacular event — the first annular, or "ring of fire," solar eclipse to be visible in the U.S. since 2012 — is a great excuse to travel, especially because many of the best viewing locations are also International Dark Sky Parks. 

Related: When is the next solar eclipse? 

Bear in mind, however, that mid-October is shoulder season when many national parks empty out and campsites close. The path of the eclipse also passes over high-elevation regions, mainly the Colorado Plateau, where temperatures at night can drop to freezing (or lower) that time of the year. 

Use maps of the eclipse path to double-check that your intended exact location will see a "ring of fire" and will have a clear view of the sun and moon at the exact time of the eclipse. (This interactive Google Map has links to PeakFinder in its pop-up boxes, or PhotoPills.) However, because the eclipse will be relatively high in the southeastern sky after it leaves Oregon and California, getting an unobstructed view will not be a major problem for most observers. 

So, get yourself a national park annual pass, grab a pair of solar eclipse glasses and go chase a ring of fire!  

Solar eclipses are dangerous if you do not observe the sun safely. 

Never look at the sun without proper eye protection. It is never safe to look directly at the sun's rays even if the sun is partly obscured because they contain harmful ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays that can damage your eye's retina and even cause blindness.

Never use regular sunglasses to observe the sun. The only safe way to look directly at the sun is through specifically designed solar filters, using solar eclipse glasses for direct viewing and solar filters for telescopes and binoculars. 

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Witnessing an annular solar eclipse lasting 4 minutes, 23 seconds while surveying the deepest lake in America is an enticing prospect, but it won't be as easy as it first appears. For starters, Crater Lake National Park is at an altitude of 6,178 feet (1,883 meters),  and by mid-October, early snowfall could close the North Entrance, West Rim Drive and East Rim Drive (both were closed on Oct. 14, 2016, though they've been open in the years since.) 

You'll have to take your chances, but if it is accessible and clear, then you could stand on Watchman Peak (or Watchman Trailhead) to see the eclipse 19 degrees above Wizard Island in the lake. Even if those roads are closed, Rim Village Visitor Center will remain accessible, from where you'll see the ring of fire above Garfield Peak. Or, you could attempt the 3.5-mile (5.6 kilometers) Garfield Peak Hike for a view from 8,054 feet (2,455 m). Either way, you'll have to drive in that day, because Mazama Campground closes in late September and Crater Lake Lodge closes in early October. Oct. 14 at Crater Lake National Park has been cloudy on this day 41% of the time since 2000. 

Eclipse at 9:17 a.m. PDT on Oct. 14, 2023, 19 degrees above the southeast horizon.

Lava Beds National Monument, California

Lava Beds National Monument, in northeastern California, is famous mostly for the 700 caves that wind their way through hardened lava flows. But if you plan to see the "ring of fire" from this location, you'll have to do more than simply avoid being underground. The southern edge of the path of annularity cuts right through the park, with the visitor center and the only campground at Indian Well (43 sites; first come, first served) out of the path. In fact, the longest ring of fire will last just 54 seconds at the entrance sign to the north. 

A better plan would be to head slightly east to Captain Jack's Stronghold (where the ring of fire will last 1 minute, 9 seconds) or the Wildlife Observation Point (1 minute, 37 seconds). However, for maximum time with the ring of fire, consider viewing slightly to the north, where the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway meets Highway 29 (2 minutes, 39 seconds). Oct. 14 at Lava Beds National Monument has been cloudy on this day 33% of the time since 2000.

Eclipse at 9:19 a.m. PDT on Oct. 14, 2023, 20 degrees above the southeast horizon.

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

An International Dark Sky Park, the vast Great Basin National Park in the Snake Range, in Nevada, holds astronomy program days, hosted by dark-sky rangers, on Saturday nights in October, which may work well for the eclipse. There are no firm plans so far, but a viewing event in the Astronomy Amphitheater is possible. In the summer, solar viewing events are often staged on the back porch of the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. 

Other viewing spots for the eclipse include Mather Overlook and Wheeler Peak Overlook (both 3 minutes, 46 seconds) in the north of the park. The nearby (likely empty) Sevier Lake — a short drive east on Highway 50 — is on the centerline (4 minutes, 37 seconds). Oct. 14 at Great Basin National Park has been cloudy on this day 35% of the time since 2000. 

Eclipse at 9:24 a.m. PDT on Oct. 14, 2023, 27 degrees above the southeast horizon.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Although you could get a slightly longer view of the ring of fire from the turnoff from Highway 12 to enter Bryce Canyon National Park (2 minutes, 59 seconds), easily the most scenic location would be the world-famous Bryce Amphitheater (2 minutes, 31 seconds), where any kind of light-play on the hoodoos below could be a beautiful sight. 

However, there are also places you don't want to be during the eclipse, such as the shadowed Wall Street Trail. (Though do hike after the eclipse, because Bryce's trails are gorgeous; don't miss the Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail.) As a bonus, Bryce Canyon is an International Dark Sky Park and has the longest-running night-sky program in the national park system. Astronomy events are usually held at the visitor center (which will see a ring of fire for 2 minutes, 40 seconds). Bryce Canyon National Park has been cloudy on this day 23% of the time since 2000.

Eclipse at 10:27 a.m. MDT on Oct. 14, 2023, 30 degrees above the southeast horizon.

Natural Bridges National Monument, Arizona